M.R. Verma, J.—This appeal has been preferred by the appellants-accused persons (hereinafter referred to as the accused) against the judgment dated 22.4.1999 passed by the learned Sessions Judge, Chamba, whereby he has convicted accused Amar Singh under Section 201, IPC and has sentenced his to suffer rigorous imprisonment for 2 years and to pay a fine of Rs. 1,000/- and in default of payment of fine, to suffer further rigorous impriosnment for 6 months; whereas accused Som Dutt has been convicted under Sections 302 and 201, IPC and has been sentenced to suffer rigorous imprisonment for life and to pay a fine of Rs. 2,000/- and in default of payment of fine, further rigorous imprisonment for one year under Section 302, IPC and imprisonment for 2 years and to pay a fine of Rs. 1,000/ - and in default of payment of fine to suffer further imprisonment for 6 months under Section 201, IPC.

2. The accused persons alongwith one Chikno Devi were tried by the learned Sessions Judge, Chamba on a charge under Sections 302 and 201 read with Section 34, IPC. Case of the prosecution against them, in brief, is that Rattan Singh, now deceased, retired from Army about 14 or 15 years back. A