Honble MATHUR, J.–This appeal is directed against the judgment dated 3.12.98 passed by the learned Special Judge S.C./S.T. (Prevention of Atrocities) Act Cases cum Addl. Sessions Judge, Pratapgarh, convicting the appellant of offence under Section 376 IPC and sentencing him to `seven years rigorous imprisonment and to pay a fine of Rs. one thousand and in default, to further undergo three months rigorous imprisonment. The appellant has also been convicted for the offence under Section 366 IPC and sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment and to pay a fine of Rs. five hundred and in default, to further undergo two months rigorous imprisonment. He has further been convicted of offence under Section 3(2) (v) of the Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, hereinafter referred-to as `the S.C./S.T. Act and sentenced to imprisonment for life and to pay a fine of Rs. five hundred and in default, to further undergo two months simple imprisonment. All the substantive sentences have been ordered to run concurrently.

(2). The brief facts of the case are that on 20.06.1992 at about 7.30 AM, one Mst. Laxmi lodged an oral First Information Report at Police Sta

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