( 1 ) THE accused/ appellants have preferred this Criminal appeal under Section 374 (2) of the Code of criminal Procedure against the impugned judgment dated 26. 4. 1999 passed by Additional sessions Judge, Ambikapur in Sessions Trial No. 242/1997 whereby they have been convicted under Sections 147, 148, 302/ 149 and 324/149 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for two years each under Sections 147 and 148, imprisonment for life under section 302/149 and rigorous imprisonment for two years under Section 324/149 of the indian Penal Code. All the sentences have been directed to run concurrently.

( 2 ) CASE of the prosecution in brief is that on 20. 4. 1997 at 8 a. m. Premlata Devi (PW-4), the mother of the deceased persons lodged a report Ex. P-5 in Police Station lakhanpur to the effect that she is resident of village Sargawan, her father-in-law was the proprietor, the villagers regarded them like king and whenever they were in trouble, they used to make complaints to her and their grievances were resolved in the panchayat itself by imposing penalty on the wrongdoers. According to the complaint the said Panchayat was convened a