J. B. Koshy, J.

1. This appeal is filed by the State against the judgment of the Sessions Court, Thalassery in S. C. No. 32 of 1997, acquitting all the seven accused (respondents herein) charge sheeted in the above case. The charges framed against the accused were as follows:

"That due to your political animosity towards Mayamkandy, Sathyan and Othayothu Shaji, sons of Sankaran, Sivapuram Amsom, Kanjileri desom, on 24031994 at about 2 p.m. you all the seven accused formed into an unlawful assembly with your common object to commit murder of said Sathyan and Shaji and committed rioting with deadly weapons like sword, chopper, axe, etc. and attacked said Sathyan and Shaji on the south of the concrete bridge at Ayithara, Kandamkunnu amsom and first accused among you inflicted out injury on him and accused No.2 among you with a sword, accused No.3 with an axe and accused Nos. 4 and 7 with choppers inflicted cut injuries on said Sathyan, which resulted in the death of said Sathyan and thus you all the seven accused have committed rioting with dangerous weapons inflicted injury on said Shaji and attempted to murder him and thereby you all the accused have committed offences punisha