Patna, Nov 13 (IANS) The CPI-ML plans to submit a petition with 10 million signatures to President Pranab Mukherjee to protest against the acquittal of dozens of accused in caste massacres in Bihar.

CPI-ML general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya Wednesday said the party will undertake a major signature drive across the state.

"The CPI-ML will submit one crore signatures to the president Dec 18 demanding justice for the families of those killed in various massacres of lower castes," he said.

Bhattacharya told IANS that the CPI-ML would also approach the Supreme Court to seek punishment for those acquitted by the court. "There is an urgent need to stand by them."

Last month, the Patna High Court acquitted 26 accused in the Laxmanpur-Bathe massacre of 1997, citing lack of evidence.

Fifty-eight Dalits were killed by the upper caste Ranvir Sena in the village in Jehanabad district. The victims included 27 women and 10 children.

Also last year, the same court acquitted 23 men in the 1996 Bathani Tola massacre that left 21 dead in Bhojpur district. Most victims were Dalits and Muslims, and the killings were blamed on Ranvir Sena.