( 1 ) HEARD Sri A. Prabhakar Rao, counsel representing the appellants/accused 1 to 3 and the learned Additional Public prosecutor.

( 2 ) THE case of the prosecution is that there was prior enmity between the appellants/accused and Peda Narasimhulu, sammaiah and Gopi and the appellants/ accused were waiting for a chance to attack them and accordingly on 13-6-1994 at about 8. 30 p. m. , L. Ws. 2 and 3 were returning to their house on cycle and when they passed the Fire Station, the appellant/ a-1 to A3 armed with stones and attacked them. Accused No. 2 kicked on the stomach of LW-3 due to which he fell down on the ground. Accused No. 2 took LW-2 to the nearby bushes and beat him on the head with the axe of Accused No. 3. Accused no. 1 beat with iron rod and Accused No. 2 beat him with hands. LW-2 managed to escape and rushed to the house and informed LW-1, LW-5 (Vallepu Yadagiri) and LW-6 (Vallepu Narsamrna) had rushed to LW-2 and rescued him. On a complaint a case in Cr. No. 81/94 Sections 324 read with section 34 IPC was registered and the statement of witnesses were recorded and the injured were referred to MGM Hospital. It is the version of the prosecution that