Judgment

K. JAYACHANDRA REDDY, J. :- There are nine appellants. They along with three others were tried for offences punishable under Sections 148, 302/149, 324, 326, 324/149 and 326/ 149, I.P.C. The trial Court acquitted A-11 and A-12 and convicted the appellants u/ Ss. 148,324 and 324/149, I.P.C. and sentenced each of them to undergo R. I. for 18 months under Section 148 and 2.1 months on each of the other two counts. They were, however, acquitted of the murder charge. A-10 died during the trial. The State preferred Criminal Appeal No. 393/78 against all the 11 accused questioning their acquittal of the murder charge. The nine convicted accused preferred Criminal Appeal No. 1310/ 78. The High Court disposed of both the appeals by a common judgment and dismissed Criminal Appeal No. 1310/ 78 filed by the accused but allowed Criminal Appeal No. 393/78 filed by the State against A-1 to A-9 and convicted all the nine accused under Sections 302/149 and 326/149 and sentenced each of them to undergo imprisonment for life and R.I. for three years respectively. The sentences were directed to run concurrently. Hence the present appeals.

2. Since these are regular appeals filed under Section 3