This appeal is directed against the judgment and order dated 16.04.2002 passed by Sri Vijay Kumar Verma, Special Judge, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 [hereinafter to be referred as ‘the S.C. & S.T. (POA) Act’], by which he has convicted the appellants under Sections 147, 323 & 341 of the Indian Penal Code and also under Section 3(1) (X) & (XI) of the S.C. & S.T. (POA) Act, 1989 and has further convicted the appellant, Vidya Nand Singh under Section 379 of the Indian Penal Code. All the appellants have been sentenced to undergo R.I. for six months under Section 323 of the Indian Penal Code, three months S.I. under Section 147 of the Indian penal Code and S.I. for three months under Section 341 of the Indian Penal Code and the appellant Vidya Nand Singh has been further sentenced to undergo R.I. for one year under Section 379 of the Indian Penal Code. However, no separate sentence has been passed for conviction under Section 3(1)(X) and (XI) of the S.C. & S.T. (POA) Act.

2. The prosecution story in short is that the informant, Ratilal Paswan (P.W.5) lodged Fardbeyan on 18.10.1996 at 06:30 P.M. before the Officer In-charge of Harij