JUDGMENT ON BOARD :

Arvind Singh Chandel, J.

1. Invoking criminal appellate jurisdiction of this Court, the present criminal appeal under Section 374 (2) of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as ‘Cr.P.C.’) has been filed by the appellant herein calling in question the legality, validity and correctness of the judgment of conviction and order of sentence dated 18.01.2018 passed by the Additional Sessions Judge, Fast Track Court, South Bastar, Dantewada, Chhattisgarh in Sessions Trial No.139/2012, whereby the appellant has been convicted under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (hereinafter referred to as ‘the IPC’) and sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life and with fine of Rs.100/-, in default of payment thereof, he has to undergo additional rigorous imprisonment for one month and he has been further convicted under Section 307 (3 counts) of the IPC and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for ten years and with fine of Rs.100/- (3 counts), in default of payment thereof, he has to undergo additional rigorous imprisonment for one month. Both the jail sentences are directed to run concurrently.

2. Prosecution story in brief is that on 08.07.2012, after