Maoists spokesperson Prahar said the court was forced to acquit the 26 accused in the 1997 Laxmanpur-Bathe massacre case due to dilution of the cases by the state government.
Citing lack of evidence, the Patna High Court acquitted the 26 people. Of these, 16 were earlier sentenced to death and 10 had been awarded life imprisonment in 2010 by the additional district and sessions judge of the Patna civil court.
Ranvir Sena men had allegedly carried out the massacre Dec 1, 1997. According to police, charges were framed Dec 23, 2008, against 44 men of the Ranvir Sena for killing the Dalits, including 27 women and 10 children.
Laxmanpur-Bathe, on the banks of the Sone river in Jehanabad district, was targeted by the armed Ranvir Sena men.
According to police records, four Dalit families were completely wiped out in the bloodbath.
The state government has already decided to appeal against the high court verdict.
The families of the massacre victims also expressed disappointment over the acquittals.
