The Patna High Court on Monday acquitted 23 guilty persons who were convicted by the lower court due to lack of evidence against them. Earlier the Additional district and session Court, Bhojpur had sentenced three persons to death and life imprisonment to 20 for the 1996 massacare at Bathani Tola in Bhojpur district of Bihar. The convicted persons had challenged this judgment in the High Court. 21 people, mainly women and children, belonging to weaker sections were massacred in the carnageAfter the hearing and perusal of record related to the massacre, a division bench comprising Justice N. P. Singh and Justice A. K. Singh ordered release of all those acquitted.