President Murmu has no link with Staines murder case; viral claims are false
Earlier this week, Draupadi Murmu was sworn in as the first tribal President of India. Soon after, many netizens began sharing misinformation about Murmu. One such claim being shared online is that she is allegedly involved in a murder case.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 29 July 2022 12:38 PM GMT
HYDERABAD: Earlier this week, Draupadi Murmu was sworn in as the first tribal President of India. Soon after, many netizens began sharing misinformation about Murmu. One such claim being shared online is that she is allegedly involved in a murder case.
Netizens claim that when Murmu was a village councilor in Orissa and she had allegedly torched Staines and his two young sons to death.
"President Draupadi Murmu who was then a village councilor set Staines' vehicle on fire killing him and his two sons Philip (10) and Timothy (09)," the text reads.
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FACT CHECK:
A search on Google shows that in 1999, Australian missionary Graham Stuart Staines and his two minor sons were ghastly killed in Odisha's Keonjhar district. They were sleeping at Manoharpur village when they were burnt to death on the night of January 22, 1999.
Supreme Court judgment in 2011 can be read here.
Nowhere is Draupadi Murmu's name mentioned in the verdict. In no news report either, is the President's name mentioned. (Read here and here for details of the accused)
Moreover, Murmu was the councilor of Rairangpur in the Mayurbhanj district. She was elected as councilor in 1997. Later she went on to become Vice-Chairperson of Rairangpur NAC.
Furthermore, in the election affidavit submitted in 2004, it can be seen that Draupadi Murmu has stated that there are no murder cases against her.
President Murmu has no connection with the Staines murder case. The claim is false.
