JUDGMENT :

R. Subhash Reddy, J.

1. This criminal appeal is filed by the accused nos.2 to 5 in Sessions Case No.162 of 2003 on the file of Fast Track Court-IV, Gulbarga, aggrieved by the judgment and order of conviction and sentence dated 22.02.2011 in Criminal Appeal No.1812 of 2005 passed by the High Court of Karnataka (Circuit Bench at Gulbarga).

2. Sessions Case No.162 of 2003 is a case chargesheeted by Shahbad Police Station in the State of Karnataka against the appellants-accused under Sections 143, 147, 148, 324, 326, 307, 302 read with 149 of Indian Penal Code (IPC). For the aforesaid offences, they were tried by the Fast Track Court-IV at Gulbarga and by judgment dated 20.06.2005, the appellants/accused nos.2 to 5 and accused no.6 were acquitted for the charges framed against them. As the accused no.1 died during the pendency of the proceedings, case was abated against him.

3. Aggrieved by the acquittal of the appellants, the respondent-State has preferred Criminal Appeal No.1812 of 2005 before the High Court of Karnataka. The High Court, by the impugned judgment and order dated 22.02.2011, has allowed the appeal partly and convicted the appellants/accused nos.2 to 5 for variou