Sudhir Singh, J.—Heard learned counsel for the appellants, learned Spl. P.P. for the State and learned counsel for the informant.

2. These criminal appeals arise out of same judgment of conviction and order of sentence and hence they have been heard together and are being disposed of by this common judgment.

3. The criminal appeals have been preferred against the judgment of conviction dated 16.01.2018 and the order of sentence dated 25.01.2018 passed by the learned Special Judge, Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Begusarai in Sessions Trial No. Balia 65 of 2016 arising out of Balia P.S. case No.65 of 2016, whereby and whereunder the appellants have been convicted under Sections 302/34 of the Indian Penal Code (hereinafter ‘I.P.C.’), Section 27 of the Arms Act and Sections 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (hereinafter ‘SC/ST Act’). The appellants have been sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life and have been awarded fine of Rs.20,000/- under Section 302 of the I.P.C. and in default of payment of fine, simple imprisonment for one year. They have been further sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment fo