1996 Bathani Tola massacre

The Bathani Tola massacre occurred on July 11, 1996, in the village of Bathani Tola, located in the Bhojpur district of Bihar, India. This tragic event involved the systematic murder of at least 21 people, primarily from the Dalit and backward caste communities, by a group of armed members associated with the upper-caste Bhoomiya militia. The massacre was part of a broader pattern of caste-based violence in Bihar during the 1990s, underscoring deep-seated social tensions and systemic inequalities. The incident sparked national outrage and led to various legal and political repercussions, including trials that aimed to bring the perpetrators to justice, thereby highlighting ongoing struggles for social equity and justice within Indian society.