Judgment

B.P. Singh, J.—This batch of appeals by special leave arises out of a common judgment and order of the High Court of judicature at Patna dated 25th February, 1999 in Criminal Appeal Nos. 513 & 515 of 1986.

2. There were 10 appellants before the High Court and those ten appel­lants have preferred these 4 appeals before us. Out of them, three have since died namely, Tribeni Ahir, Ramshish Ahir and Surajdev Dubey.

3. The appellants were tried by the Second Additional Sessions Judge, Arrah in Sessions Trial No. 69/77. By judgment and order dated 30th September, 1986 the trial court found them guilty and convicted them of the offences with which they were charged and sentenced them to various terms of imprisonment. What is of significance is the fact that appellants Tribeni Ahir (since deceased), Dhorha Ahir, Nand Kumar Ahir and Jugeshwar Dubey have been sentenced to life imprisonment under Section 302 IPC. The remain­ing appellants have been sentenced to life imprisonment under Section 302 read with Section 149 IPC. Their convictions have been challenged before us in these appeals.

4. In the occurrence that took place at about 8.00 A.M. on 13.4.1976 Jagarnath Singh alias Natha Sin