S.N.JHA, J.

1. These two appeals are directed against the judgment and order by which the appellants have been convicted under Sec. 302/34, Penal Code and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for life and further convicted under Sec. 498-A of the Penal Code and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for two years. There are three appellants in Cr. Appeal No. 9/97. They are in-laws of the deceased. In Cr. Appeal No. 44/97 the appellant is the husband.

2. Briefly stated, omitting the unnecessary details, the case of the prosecution is that Ranju Kumari, daughter of the informant Ram Narayan Poddar, was married to appellant-Birendra Poddar of Village Sadpur, P. S. Sahebpur Kamal, District Begusarai on 27-6-90. In her sasural she was ill-treated, the reason being that Birendra Poddar was having illicit relationship with his Bhabhi, Janki Devi, one of the appellants herein, to which Ranju was objecting. Her objection was not taken well and she was at times beaten. Ranju Kumari told her father about the ill-treatment. She expressed her apprehension that she might be killed and, therefore, she does not want to go to her sasural. However, on account of marriage in the in-laws family Roks