Judgment

HEGDE, J.: 23 persons including the 9 appellants were tried before the Additional Sessions Judge, Badaun for various offences. All of them were convicted. by the learned Sessions Judge under S. 302/149, I.P. C., 307/ 149 I.P.C. as well as under Ss. 148 and 147 1. P. C. Under those heads they were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment, the maximum being the imprisonment for life under Section 302/149 I. P. C. The various sentences were ordered to run concurrently. In appeal the High Court of Allahabad acquitted 14 of the 23 accused giving them the benefit of doubt. The convictions imposed on the others and the sentences awarded to them were confirmed. Thereafter this appeal has been brought after obtaining special leave from this Court.

2. It has been found by both the courts below and that finding has not been challenged before us that there was enmity between the first appellant Bankey Lal, his relations and friends on one side and the deceased Bhullan Rameshwar and injured P. W. 5 Ram Chandra and the members of their families on the other. There appears to have been a long-standing dispute between these two groups. Sometime before the occurrence, the first appellant a