Bathani Tola massacre: Three sentenced to death, 20 get life term

Ara (Bihar), May 12 (ANI): A court here on Wednesday awarded death sentences to three persons and life imprisonment to over 20 others in connection with the infamous Bathani Tola massacre in Bhojpur District in 1996 in which 21 Dalits were killed.

Additional District and Sessions Judge A K Srivastava announced the quantum of punishment for the accused.

Earlier on May 5, Srivastava had convicted 23 accused persons and acquitted 30 others for want of evidence in connection with the carnage that took place under Sahar block of Bhojpur district on July 11, 1996 by suspected activists of Ranvir Sena, a private militia of land owners.

Around 70 Sena men had raided the village and killed 21 Dalits, mostly women and girls, including two babies in the age group of three to nine months. (ANI)