Inder Singh Uboweja, J.

1. This is an appeal against the judgment of conviction and order of sentence dated 27.12.2000 passed by the Additional Sessions Judge, Ambikapur in Sessions Trial No. 357/99, whereby the appellant has been convicted under Sections 302 and 201 IPC and sentenced with imprisonment of life and R1 for 5 years with a direction to run both the sentences concurrently. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that deceased - Sulakshni Bai was wife of the appellant, they were residing in their house at village - Navagarh. On 22.04.1999, at about 6.00 p.m. near village pond, deceased was disputing with her husband about his second marriage. At that time, the appellant assaulted her by an iron rod (Sabbal) and thereafter, the appellant dragged her and brought her in his house. Prosecution witnesses Ram (PW-5) and Anil (PW-6) are the eyewitnesses of the above incident, who have actually seen the appellant assaulting Sulakshni Bai (deceased) near the pond and in his house. Thereafter, Sulakshni Bai (deceased) cries were stopped.

2. On 24.04.1999, dead body of Sulakshni Bai (deceased) was found near village canal. Merg intimation (Ex/P-1) was registered at Police Stati