Actor dies in "realistic" depiction of missionary's murder

Actor Mohan Kumar, 26, collapsed in front of more than 1,000 spectators watching the play on the life of Australian missionary Graham Staines when he was set afire by a fellow actor playing the murderer, the Asian Age newspaper reported. The fellow actor had no clue that Kumar had doused himself with real fuel to make the scene appear authentic, the paper said, quoting the organizers of the show.

By the time the spectators, who included senior police officials, realized that the situation was serious it was too late. Kumar was rushed to a local hospital where he died last Friday. Graham Staines and his two sons were burnt alive on January 22, 1999 in the eastern state of Orissa by suspected Hindu zealots opposed to Christian proselytizing.

Staines was known for his work among tribals and lepers. Dara Singh, a suspected activist of the Hindu group Bajrang Dal and some others are facing trial in the case.

(la/dpa)