Top news of the day: Odisha rejects premature release of Graham Staines murder convict Dara Singh; two senior Leh leaders express concern over ‘protest marches’, and more

Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription

Police bring out Dara Singh, the main defendant in the Graham Stewart Staines murder case, from the court in Bhubaneswar, India. File | Photo Credit: AP

The premature release of Rabindra Kumar Pal alias Dara Singh , serving a life sentence for the murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two minor sons, has hit a deadlock, with the State Sentence Review Board (SSRB) rejecting his release after the Supreme Court directed the Odisha government to take a clear stand on the matter. Earlier, the Director General of Prisons and Correctional Service and Kendujhar Jail Authorities had recommended his release on grounds of good behaviour.

“The Kendujhar district authority on August 28, 2026 have reported that on August 15, 2026, a congregation comprising approximately 200-250 persons associated with Dara Sena assembled in front of the District Jail, Kendujhar in connection with the proposed release of the convict, during which provocative slogans were reportedly raised,” says the proceeding copy of SSRB’s August 31, 2026 meeting.

Two senior regional leaders from Ladakh’s Leh, Tsering Samphel and Rigzin Spalbar, have expressed concern over protest marches proposed to demand Statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. They are instead pushing for elections to local hill councils in newly created districts.

“We are strongly against holding any padyatra (walk) or protest in Leh while formal talks are proceeding as a follow-up to the agreement consensually signed by ourselves. Such actions at this juncture will only weaken our collective negotiating strength. The satisfactory sixth meeting with the MHA (Union Ministry of Home Affairs) at New Delhi must be followed up with sincerity to take it to its logical conclusion,” Mr. Spalbar, former chairperson of the Ladakh Hill Development Council-Leh, and Mr. Samphel, former president of the Ladakh Buddhist Association, said.

The move comes against the backdrop of the ongoing ‘Martyrs Month’ being observed in Ladakh to remember the four civilians who died during protests in Leh in September 2025. Both the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance support the first death anniversary remembrance meetings. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has also backed the agitational route to pressurise New Delhi in meeting promises made during the May 22 and September 9, 2025 talks between the Union government and the representatives from Ladakh.

Congress AICC general secretary in-charge of Punjab Sachin Pilot, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa and other party leaders were detained by police on Tuesday (September 15, 2026) during a protest to demand the removal of Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema over the alleged death by suicide of a Dalit man. The protesters, who also demanded an independent probe into the incident, tried to march towards the official residence of Mr. Cheema and force their way through barricades, but were met with water cannons.

Gulzar Singh, who hailed from Dirba in Sangrur district, died by suicide on September 7. .