In Bihar, the Ara court today awarded death sentence to three persons and life imprisonment to 20 others in Bathani Tola massacre case. The case pertains to massacre of 21 Dalits at Bathani Tola in Sahar block of Bhojpur district of the state on July 11, 1996 by suspected activists of Ranveer Sena, a private army of land lords. AIR Patna correspondent reports that the reason behind the massacre was bone of contention of ownership of a small vacant government plot. Police said, 60 to 70 supporters of the outlawed Sena attacked the Bathani Tola and killed 21 persons mainly children and women in the age group of three months to 80 years using fire arms, swords and other conventional weapons. Most of the victims died on the spot. 23 accused were found guilty in the case while 30 acquitted. <br/>