Ashutosh Kumar, J.—All the three appeals have been taken up together and are being disposed of by this common judgment.

2. We have heard Shri Ajay Kumar Thakur, the learned Advocate for the appellant /Jitendra Kumar @ Jitendra Choudhary @ Mithai in Cr. Appeal (DB) No. 435/2021; Mr. Prateek Kumar, Advocate for the appellant /Munna Tiwari in Cr. Appeal (DB) No. 297/2021; and Mr. Harsh Singh, Advocate for the appellant/Santosh Kumar Rai @ Raju Rai. Mr. Abhimanyu Sharma, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor has appeared on behalf of the State in all the three appeals.

3. The appellants have been convicted for the offences under Section 302/34 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 27(1) of the Arms Act by judgment dated 23.02.2021 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge -XI, Bhojpur at Ara in Sessions Trial No. 304 of 2016 arising out of Ara Town P.S. Case No. 253 of 2015. By order dated 03.03.2021, they have been sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life, to pay a fine of Rs. 10,000/- for the offence under Section 302/34 IPC and imprisonment for a term of five years along with a fine of Rs. 10,000/- for the offence under Section 27(1) of the Arms Act. The sentences have been