JUDGMENT

R.M. Lodha, J.—

This criminal appeal by special leave unfolds a woeful tale of a village political rivalry leading to double murder; prior thereto also there were attacks by rival factions that led to two murders.

2. Fifteen persons were arraigned before the trial court for the offences under Section 302, 307, 307 read with 149, 148 and 341, IPC. The trial court convicted only eleven among them and acquitted two accused. The other two accused died during the trial. The convicted persons were sentenced under Section 302, IPC, to life imprisonment and varying periods of imprisonment under other offences; fine with default stipulation was also imposed. All the eleven convicted persons filed appeal before the High Court. The High Court affirmed the conviction and sentence passed by the trial court. All these eleven convicted persons preferred special leave petition in which leave has been granted. During the pendency of the appeal, one more convicted person has died.

3. Chinthalajuturu in Vemula Mandal of Cuddapah District (Andhra Pradesh) is a faction-ridden village. One of these factions is led by Kakarla Gangi Reddy (victim group) that supports Congress Party. The leader of