T. Vaiphei, J.

1. The legality of the conviction and sentence of the Appellant passed by the Learned Addl. Sessions Judge (Court No. 3), West Tripura under Section 384 I.P.C. In his judgment dated 31.07.2005 in connection with Sessions Trial Case No. 153 (WT/A)/2000, is under challenge in this Criminal Appeal.

2. I have heard Mr. S.D. Choudhury, the Learned Counsel for the Appellant and Mr. R.C. Debnath, the Learned Public Prosecutor in charge.

3. The case of the prosecution, briefly stated, is that on 15.12.1998 in the evening, Sadhan Das aged about 25 years, Son of the informant of Jagaharimura under West Agartala Police Station had gone out to attend some invitation but did not return during the night time. When he did not return in the night, the informant and his relative searched for him but could not trace him out. On 16.12.1998, his scooter was found abandoned at South Anandanagar with a leaf-let indicating that some extremists had abducted him for ransom. Takarjala Police Station collected the scooter and took it to the police station. On learning that the victim was abducted by extremists, the informant with his sons-in-law Ranjan Das went to East Agartala Police Sta