Gaya: Fifteen years after the gruesome massacre of 19 Dalits, including children, at a Bihar village, a special court on June 6 handed out death sentence to eight people and life imprisonment to six holding them guilty of the mayhem.

Gaya Additional District and Sessions Judge D D Pandey pronounced 14 people guilty of committing the massacre on a petition filed by Malti Devi who was injured in the attack that took place at Nonhi-Nagwa village of Jehanabad district on June 16, 1988.

A group of landowners had gunned down 19 dalits and injured 11 following a dispute over fixation of agricultural wages prior to paddy cultivation season.

While 13 accused are already in judicial custody, one of them, Rajbhallav Yadav is absconding. Those awarded death penalty are Rajbhallav Yadav (absconding), Joddha Mahto, Ram Babu Mahto, Jung Bahadur Singh, Ramashish Yadav, Bipin Sharma, Dinanath Yadav and Jaddu Yadav.

Those ordered to undergo life imprisonment are Sidheswar Yadav, Mohan Yadav, Ramprit Yadav, Krit Yadav, Prabhu Yadav and Rajendra Yadav.

PTI