V. Ramkumar, J.

1. The four appellants herein who were the accused in S.C. 79/2000 on the file of the Fast Track Court (Ad hoc) II, Kottayam were charge sheeted by the Dy. S.P. of Police, Narcotic Cell, Kottayam (PW 16) for an offence punishable under S.302 r/w. S.34 I.P.C.

2. The case of the prosecution can be summarised as follows:-

On 7-2-1997 at or about 6.45 p.m. at Ayamkudy Kara in Muttuchira Village of Vaikom Taluk in Kottayam District, the 4th accused came driving his goods autorickshaw (pick up auto) bearing Reg.No.KL-5/B 9756 along with A1 to A3 in the said goods carrier and pulled up in front of Marangattil House of the deceased namely, Sathyadevan @ Sahadevan @ Sahadi aged 42 years. The deceased was the driver of a mini lorry. A2 straight away went over to the deceased who was sitting along with PW 2 in the veranda of his house. A2 caught hold of the deceased by the tuck of his dhoti and dragged him on to the Ezhumanthuruthu - Kapola road in front. The deceased picked up the soda bottle on the parapet of his house. Seeing this A2 went and picked up a soda bottle from the adjacent grocery shop run by Rajamma (PW 7), the wife of the deceased and came on to the road.