Jail term for missionary murder

Graham Staines and his two sons were burnt alive in a jeep

A 13-year-old boy has been sent to a juvenile detention centre for 14 years for his role in the killing of Australian missionary Graham Staines in eastern India last year.

Sudarshan Hansda was one of 15 people arrested for their part in the murder of Mr Staines and his two sons in the state of Orissa.

Dara Singh: Trial is continuing

They were burnt to death while asleep in their jeep.

Hansda was tried separately because of his age. His conviction is the first in the case.

He can approach the high court to appeal against his conviction.

The man alleged to be the ringleader of the group, Dara Singh, was arrested earlier this year after a lengthy police search.

The trial of Dara Singh and the others is continuing.

Dara Singh had been linked to hardline Hindu groups, although an official commission of enquiry decided that he worked alone rather than on behalf of any Hindu group.

Condemned

The murder of Graham Staines and his sons was widely condemned and was followed by other attacks on the minority Christian community in India.

Church leaders alleged the attacks were carried out at the behest of hardline Hindu organisations.

The Hindu hardliners accused Christian missionaries of forcibly converting poor and low-caste Hindus and tribals.

The US-based Human Rights Watch has accused the Indian Government of failing to prevent violence against Christians, and of exploiting sectarian tensions for political ends.

The organisation said attacks against Christians increased "significantly" since the Hindu nationalist BJP came to power.

The BJP has denied the charge.