S. P. Talukdar, J.

1. THE appellants, namely, Narayan Dutta, Swapan Dutta, Biren Aich, Dilip Pal, Santi Das, Nabakrishna Das, Tapan Kumar Pal, Ranjit Das and Kartick Kirtania, were found guilty of the offences under section 302 read with section 149 of the Indian Penal Code. Each of them was sentenced to suffer rigorous imprisonment for life and also to pay fine of Rs.10,000.00, in default, to suffer further imprisonment for 5 years.

2. THE said appellants were also found guilty of the offence under section 147 of the Indian Penal Code and each of them was sentenced to suffer rigorous imprisonment for 2 years and to pay fine of Rs. 1,000.00, in default, to suffer detention for a further period of 1 year.

Being aggrieved by the said judgment and order of conviction and sentence dated 30th March, 1985, the appellants preferred the instant appeal. The backdrop of the present case may briefly be stated as follows: Smt. Chabirani Biswas approached the Purbasthali Police Station and lodged a complaint to the effect that on 8th July, 1981 (Wednesday), at about 10.30/11 a.m. when she and Khatimon Bibi were engaged in cooking at home, Narayan Dutta, Swapan Dutta, Dilip Pal, Tapan Pa