SRIKAKULAM: The special court Friday would begin in situ trial into the Lakshmipeta massacre where five Dalits were killed in June 2012 during attacks by members of a backward class community in connection with land disputes at Lakshmipeta in Vangara mandal of the district.
The officials concerned have already issued notices to all the 80 accused in connection with the case which created shockwaves across the nation.
On June 12 2012, a land dispute between a backward class community and the Dalits led to an attack by the former on the latter and caused the death of five Dalits - B Sundara Rao, Chitri Appadu, N Venkati, N Sangameshu and Papaiah. Nearly 20 others were injured in the incident.
The massacre attracted wide protests from across the nation, demanding an in situ trial of the case by a special court at Lakshmipeta. The state government sanctioned the special court to conduct the trial and necessary buildings were inaugurated last year. Meanwhile, the CID conducted a speedy investigation into the incident and charged about 80 persons with the killings.