JUDGMENT

K. JAYACHANDRA REDDY, J.:—These three appeals arise out of a common judgment of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and they are being disposed of together here. Original accused Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 10 to 14 and 16 are the appellants before us.

2. On 12-9-74 at about 9/ 10 A. M. a rioting of grave nature took place in village Bath in Amritsar District, during the course of which four persons were killed and several persons received injuries. In connection with this occurrence 17 accused persons were tried under Sections 148, 302, 307, 324, 325 and 323 read with Section 149, I.P.C. and Section 27 of the Arms Act by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Amritsar. The learned trial Judge acquitted accused Nos. 3, 7, 8, 9, 15 and 17 and convicted the remaining 11 accused under Sec. 302 read with Section 149, I.P.C. and sentenced each of them to undergo imprisonment for life. They were also convicted under Sections 148, 307/149, 323/149, 324/ 149 and 325/ 149, I.P.C. and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment. Four of them were also convicted under Section 27 of the Arms Act and sentenced to one years R. I. The sentences were directed to run concurrently. The convicted accuse