These are some of the details received by the Union Home Ministry of Dara Singh's activities in Orissa's tribal belt for the past three years. According to a report, prepared by intelligence agencies, Dara Singh is the eldest among four daughters and two sons of an Etawah-based farmer Mihilal Pal.

At least four of the 10 criminal cases registered against him in Orissa --since early 1997 -- involved petty dacoity. While the BJP today officially claimed that he was close to certain sections of the Congress, the report received by the Home Ministry says that Dara Singh claimed to be a BajrangDal activist. And that one Chotelal Mohanta, the local BJP coordinator of Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts, ``utilised Dara Singh's services for canvassing during the last Parliamentary elections.''

Among the tribals of Orissa, Dara Singh, 34, (whose real name is Rabinder Pal Singh) is popularly known as ``Teacher.' But his teachings have essentially been lengthy outbursts against Christian missionaries.

Even murder was not new to Dara Singh, the report says. He was booked for one at Malida police station (Case no 67) on September 15. It is not yet clear who the victim was but in this particular matter, Singh has also been charged with ``rioting, armed with deadly weapon'' under Sections 147 and 148 of the IPC. On February 19 last, he was charged with attempted murder (Section 307, registered at Keonjhar police station).

According to the report, the provocation for the Staines' murders came on the night of January 20 when about 30 tribals converted to Christianity. ceremony. This infuriated the``Teacher'' and soon he and his followers descended on Tulsi Bani village to declare war on the missionaries.

The intelligence agencies' report paints Dara Singh as one who snapped his family ties for the ``cause'' about a decade ago. Most of the 10-odd cases registered against Dara Singh relate to wrongful confinement, assault on public servants and rioting. In one, he has been booked under Section 294 of the IPC for indulging in ``obscene acts and songs'' at a public place. The report says that his acts consisted mainly of ``intimidation and criminalisation against members of the minority communities.'' Among his close associates named in the report are Chaturbhuj Mohanta, Narendra Mohanta and Kalicharan Mohanta.