Twenty-six years have passed since Australian missionary and leprosy physician Graham Staines and his two young sons lost their lives in Manoharpur village, Odisha, on January 22, 1999. Staines had dedicated over three decades of his life, from 1965 to 1999, providing free medical care to leprosy patients in India.
Staines, along with his sons Philip, 10, and Timothy, 6, were killed when their vehicle was set ablaze in Manoharpur village. A government commission investigation implicated Dara Singh in the incident, though the Supreme Court of India later acquitted the accused in 2011.
The United Christian Forum (UCF) has recently released data showing 733 incidents of violence against Christians in India during 2023, with that number rising to 834 in 2024. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, incidents of religious violence occur approximately every 12 minutes.
The Open Doors Organization, which monitors religious persecution globally, reports that India's ranking in their religious violence index has shifted from 28th position in 2014 to 10th position in 2022.
Staines' work focused primarily on treating leprosy patients, providing free medical care to those in need regardless of their religious or social background. His death marked a significant moment in India's history of religious relations and continues to be remembered by healthcare workers and human rights organizations.
Recent statistics from various monitoring organizations indicate evolving patterns in religious violence across India. The UCF and other organizations continue to track and report on incidents affecting religious minorities throughout the country.
The incident and its aftermath have led to ongoing discussions about religious tolerance and the protection of minorities in India. Various international organizations continue to monitor and report on religious freedom situations across the country.
