Although the three witnesses Mathai Marandi, Salman Marandi and Raghunath Dehuri admitted that they had not seen Dara Singh before or after the Manoharpur incident, they said the man similar to the one in the photograph was armed with an axe and a lathi. Wearing a lungi and kurta, he was giving directions to the mob, they said.

Recalling the incident, Mathai Marandi, one of the key witnesses of the triple murder case, said he tried to seek help from a Christian neighbour but was prevented from doing so. Three of the miscreants rushed towards him and threatened to kill him if he tried to go near the vehicle in which Staines and his sons were sleeping.

Stating that there wereover 30 persons outside the church, Mathai said he could recognise Ojen Hansda and Chenchu Hansda of the village from among the crowd. All the miscreants including Ojen and Chenchu were wearing red headbands.

Mathai said he heard one of the two sons of Staines cry. The entire operation was over within half an hour. The miscreants whistled thrice and shouted ``Jai Bajrangbali'' and ``Dara Singh zindabad'' before they left the spot.

Salman Marandi told the commission that he saw three miscreants trying to set the two vehicles afire. One of them collected straw and put it under the vehicles while another lighted fire to the straw. The third person, suspected to be Dara, was giving instructions to the other two miscreants.

Salman admitted that he had not disclosed to the CBI that he had also seen Ojen and Chenchu near the spot because of the threat from two of his cousins that he would be killed if he disclosed the names to the police.

Rajendra Hembram of Tumuridiha village deposed that about 40 personsincluding Dara Singh gathered at the paddy field of his cousin Srikanta Purti on January 22 at about 8 pm. They asked for water and later they had food before leaving for Puthijhari to preform a drama.

He told the commission that he recognised a few persons of the group. Besides, Ojen and Chenchu, he named Mahendra Hembram, Renta Hembram and Mahadev Mahanta, Madhu Mahanta, Umakanta Bhaoi, Ghanashyama Bhaoi, Budhia Nayak, Surath Nayak, Kartik Lohar, Andha Nayak and Dipu Das who were present there.

Among others, Raghunath Dehuri of Manoharpur, Manika Gagrai of Tumudidiha and Nehmia Tudu, pastor of Raikia church, deposed before the commission.