( 1 ) THIS appeal arises out of judgment of the Special Sessions Judge for trial of cases under SCs and STs (Prevention of Atrocities) Act dated 8-7-1993 rendered in CC No. 14 of 1993 under which the appellant has been convicted for the offence under Section 3 (1) (xi) of SCs and STs (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (for short the Act ) and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for six months and to pay a fine of Rs. 500. 00 in default to undergo rigorous imprisonment for four weeks.

( 2 ) THE facts relevant to this appeal may be stated briefly as follows:on 14-12-1992, the victim Dappu Bujjamma of Digwal village belonging to Scheduled Caste was sent along with her brother-in-law Rajkumar for grazing cattle to the field of Edugollu. At about 5 p. m. , she went to take drinking water and while returning along Jawar field of Uppari Chandraiah, the accused, who is a muslim, not belonging to Scheduled Caste came behind her, caught hold of her hands, dragged her to jawar fields. On her hue and cry, her brother-in-law Rajkumar came towards her and then the accused left her and ran away. After returning to the village, she told her mother-in-law and her husband (PW4) afte