Ukhrul, April 18: Mahendra Hembram, one of the convicts in the brutal killing of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two minor sons, was released from Keonjhar jail, Odisha on Wednesday, reportedly on the grounds of “good behaviour.”
Mahendra Hembram was among those convicted for the heinous crime committed on January 22, 1999, in the village of Manoharpur, Odisha. On that night, Staines and his sons, Timothy and Philip, aged 10 and 6 respectively, were sleeping inside a van when it was set on fire by a mob. The incident had drawn widespread national and international outrage and highlighted concerns over religious intolerance in India.
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Graham Staines had been working in Odisha for years, primarily serving leprosy patients and the tribal community. His murder and that of his children had led to a high-profile trial, with several men, including Hembram, being sentenced for their roles in the killings.
According to media reports, officials have confirmed that Hembram’s early release was granted in accordance with prison rules that allow remission of sentence for inmates demonstrating good conduct over an extended period.