Balaram Sagar, the Cop Who Caught Graham Staine's Killer Dara Singh, Turns Preacher

Balaram Sagar, once celebrated as the police officer who went undercover to capture the notorious killer Dara Singh, has undergone a striking transformation—from devout Hindu to devoted Christian preacher. Speaking exclusively to Fr Ajaya Kumar Singh, Sagar shared a story marked by personal tragedy, powerful spiritual experiences, and an unshakeable commitment to sharing his newfound faith.

Sagar famously posed as an arms dealer to trap Dara Singh, a criminal wanted for several murders, including those of missionary Graham Staines and his two young sons, and Fr Arul Dass from Tamil Nadu. Alone atop a hill at night, Sagar negotiated a fake gun deal before overpowering Dara. He fired two blank shots to alert his team waiting below. Police reinforcements scaled the hill to find Sagar pinning Dara to the ground, securing the arrest single-handedly.

Sagar’s first contact with Christianity followed a harrowing time in his personal life. After arresting Dara Singh, he was transferred to another posting, during which his wife suffered severe burns in a kitchen accident. She was left critically ill and struggling to breathe.

Despite turning to doctors, Sagar saw no improvement in his wife’s condition. “Someone suggested he invite a pastor to pray for her,” Fr Ajaya recounted. “The pastor came and prayed over her. Although she passed away soon afterwards, Balaram believed she experienced relief in her final days. That left a deep impression on him.”

Sagar’s exposure to Christian prayer continued when his wife fell gravely ill. On that occasion, prayers from another pastor seemed to help her recover. These experiences gradually began to transform his spiritual perspective. “He thought, if ordinary followers of Jesus could heal the sick through prayer, then Jesus himself must be even more powerful.”

Over time, Sagar says he had personal visions of Jesus—“10 or 15 times”—which solidified his conviction that Christ was calling him. “It wasn’t sudden,” Fr Ajaya explained. “It was gradual—a blend of spiritual encounters and real-life situations.”

Reactions among Sagar’s family have been mixed. His first wife, who died from her injuries, was Hindu, while his second wife comes from a Christian background. However, some of his in-laws remain opposed to his new faith. Professionally, too, he faced hurdles. “People in his department tried to implicate him in false cases and block his promotions,” Fr Ajaya revealed.

Despite these challenges, Sagar feels a strong duty to share his testimony. “He told me, ‘If I don’t speak about Jesus, who will?’” said Fr Ajaya. “He believes he must be a messenger so others can come to know Christ as he has.”

Today, Balaram Sagar stands as a figure of profound transformation—a police officer whose quest for justice led not only to the arrest of one of India’s most wanted criminals but ultimately to a faith he now passionately proclaims.

By Catholic Connect Reporter