As many as 78 accused in the Lakshmipet massacre case, in which five Dalits were killed and 19 injured on June 12 in 2012, appeared before the special court that began the hearing on Friday. Dalit families alleged that the dominant BCs attacked them for taking up cultivation in government lands located under Madduvalasa reservoir. TDP leader Botcha Vasudeva Naidu and others are facing criminal charges in the incident. Special Court judge V. Venkateswara Rao recorded the arguments of both the parties. Heavy police force was deployed at the court to avoid untoward incidents . The case was adjourned to June 5.
