Judgment

KHANNA, J: - This is an appeal by special leave by Roop Singh (30), Paranjan Singh (42), Nirbhai Singh (22), Maghar Singh (56), Tara Singh (30) and Naib Singh (25) against the judgment of the Punjab & Haryana High Court. The six appellants were tried along with Major Singh (14), Inder Singh (50) and Teja Singh (42) in the Court of the Additional Sessions Judge Barnala on various charges in connection with an occurrence which resulted in the death of three persons, Mastan Singh (55), Amar Singh (55) and Mohinder Singh (26) and injuries to Bachan Singh (PW 9). Learned Additional Sessions Judge acquitted all the nine accused. On appeal by the State of Punjab, the High Court convicted the six accused appellants under Section 302 read with Section 149 and S. 326 read with S. 149 Indian Penal Code and sentenced each of them to undergo imprisonment for life on the first count and rigorous imprisonment for a period of three years on the second count. Both the sentences were ordered to run concurrently. The State appeal against the acquittal of Major Singh, Inder Singh and Teja Singh was dismissed.

2. The case for the prosecution is that there was a long standing enmity between the p