PALEKAR, J.:- In this appeal by special leave the appellant Gyanendra Kumar who is about 22 years old has been convicted by the Civil and Sessions Judge, Etah for offences under sections 302, 307, 224 I.P.C and S. 25 of the Indian Arms Act. On conviction he has been sentenced to imprisonment for life and to several other terms of imprisonment. All the sentences are made to run concurrently. In appeal, the High Court at Allahabad confirmed the conviction and sentence and hence this appeal by special leave.

2. The person who lost his life was one Munshi Lal, the maternal uncle of the appellant. The incident took place in Ganjdunwara town on August 30, 1964. There is a School in that town known as the Hindi Muria School which was run by the Dharmada Committee of the local grain-merchants. The appellant s father Raja Ram and uncle Mehtab Rai are influential grain merchants of the town and were members of the Dharmada Committee. The deceased Munshi Lal was a teacher in that School. The President of the Dharmada Committee received a letter in which it was suggested that the School may either be closed or the salaries of the teachers be reduced. Hence a meeting of the Dharmada Committee wa