DSP unsure of interviewee

Bhubaneswar, April 13: Keonjhar district superintendent of police Arun Kumar Ray admitted before the Justice D P Wadhwa Commission of Inq...

Bhubaneswar, April 13: Keonjhar district superintendent of police Arun Kumar Ray admitted before the Justice D P Wadhwa Commission of Inquiry on Tuesday that he was not sure whether the man who was interviewed by Binay Bhushan Patnaik, a freelancer, was Dara Singh, prime accused in the murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two minor sons at Manoharpur in January last.

The video recording of Dara Singh8217;s interview was played before the Commission which asked Ray to identify the man in question.

8220;I cannot say conclusively that the person is Dara because his head is covered. There may be some similarity but it needs further investigation to be sure that the man is Dara8221;, Ray maintained.

Replying to questions from the Commission counsel Gopal Subramanium, Ray said he had obtained two photographs. While one of the photographs was taken from Dara8217;s photo identity card, the other was probably taken at the time of his arrest, he submitted.

The Commission sought to know from Ray as to whythe police failed to arrest Dara even after conducting raids more than 75 times.

Ray who claimed to have participated in about ten raids said that delayed receipt of intelligence and difficult terrain made it difficult for the police to nab Dara Singh.

Replying to a question, Ray said Dara who was arrested in 1997 for assaulting Muslim cattle traders under Patna police station was released on bail. The petition for cancellation of Dara8217;s bail was stalled for the several petitions filed by his advocate. The last time petition was filed sometime in March, he told the Commission.

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Asked whether he knew one Sushil Kumar Agarwal, Ray said that Agarwal had visited his office once sometime in February last. Agarwal stated about the Manoharpur incident and its impact having all over the country. He also sought to know the legal implication if Dara Singh surrendered. I told him to consult a lawyer8221;, he added.

To another question Ray said that he did discuss the matter with the district collector who alsodisclosed to him that Agarwal had also met him either at Saharpara or Karanjia. The district collector did not tell me that Agarwal had knowledge about the whereabouts of Dara, Ray maintained. Ray further submitted before the Commission that the district collector pointed to some reports published in a section of the press about Dara8217;s desire to surrender. The district collector whose name was attributed in the media reports suspected that the reports were the handiwork of Agarwal, he said.

He replied in the negative when asked whether he had discussed with Agarwal Dara8217;s links with local politicians.

Referring to Ray8217;s affidavit, the Commission sought to know the basis on which he claimed Dara as an activist of the Bajrang Dal and Bharatiya Janata Party. Ray said his claim was based on records and statements of witnesses recorded under Section 164 in the Staines8217; murder case.