T.V. Nalawade, J.

1. All these three appeals are filed against the judgment and order of Sessions Case No.121/1994 which was pending in the Court of the learned Sessions Judge, Parbhani. The learned Sessions Judge Parbhani has convicted and sentenced the accused Nos. 1 to 4 and 6 and 7 for offence of gang rape punishable under section 376(2)(g) of Indian Penal Code. Accused Nos.1 to 4 are convicted and sentenced for offence punishable under section 366 read with section 34 of Indian Penal Code. The trial Court has acquitted accused Nos.5, accused No.8 and accused No.9. Criminal Appeal No.153/1999 is filed by the original accused No.7 Kalyan Renge. Criminal Appeal No.157/1999 is filed by Rameshwar Kanade, accused No.4. Criminal Appeal No. 281/1999 is filed by the State. The State has filed the appeal as the trial Court has given sentence of rigorous imprisonment of 10 years only and the State wants to see that the convicted accused are sentenced with life imprisonment. Both the sides are heard.

2. In short, the facts leading to the institution of the appeals can be stated as follows :-

3. Two minor village girls were ravished in Parbhani city and at the outskirts of Parbhani