A prosecution witness in the murder case of Sheikh Rahaman has claimed before a local court that he had seen Dara Singh stabbing a trader to death with a dagger at Padiabeda weekly market on 26 August 1999.

Deposing before the district and sessions court here on 14 September 14, Abdul Ghani said he had seen Dara Singh, sentenced to death on charges of murdering Australian missionary Graham Staines, killing Rahaman with a dagger at the weekly market. Ghani, a mohua seed trader, said he had gone to market on the day of murder.

Nearly 20 associates, all armed with lathis, he claimed, accompanied Dara Singh. Dara Singh and 38 others, allegedly involved in the criminal case, were present in the court while the prosecution witness deposed.