Three Receives Death Penalty, 20 Others Lifer for Massacre of Dalits in 1996
Three persons have been sentenced to death while 20 others to life imprisonment by a Bihar court in a case of massacre of 21 Dalits at Bathani Tola in Bhojpur district in 1996, said media reports.
Giving the verdict, Additional District and Sessions Judge AK Srivastava pronounced the quantum of punishment today, reports said.
On May 5, the accused were found guilty by the court of killing the dalits at Bathani Tola under Sahar block of Bhojpur district on July 11, 1996.
The accused were suspected activists of Ranvir Sena, a private militia of land owners.
As many as 30 other accused were earlier acquitted by the court in the case for want of enough evidence.
Around 70 Sena men had raided the village and killed 21 dalits, mostly women and children.
(Based on internet reports)
