S. J. MUKHOPADHAYA, J.

( 1 ) THIS appeal arises from the judgment dated 5th December, 2000 passed by Shree Shyam Kishore Sharma, learned 3rd Additional Sessions Judge, Hazaribagh in Sessions Trial No. 25 of 1995 whereby and whereunder, all the appellants, named above, have been convicted u/s. 302/34 and 201/34 of the I. P. C. , and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for life for the offences u/s. 302/34 of the I. P. C. each and three years for the offences u/s. 201/34 of the I. P. C. However, both sentences are to run concurrently. To understand the case, it is desirable to give the relationship between the informant, deceased and appellants. Deceased, Most. Gendiya Devi is the mother of Faudi Thakur (A-1), Ramdhani Thakur (A-2) and informant, Lalo Devi (PW-9 ). Saro Devi (A-4) is the wife of Faudi Thakur (A-1) i. e. daughter-in-law of the deceased. Chameli Devi (A-3) is the mother of Sundari Devi (A-5) and both are next door neighbours of the deceased.

( 2 ) THE case of prosecution is that the informant, Lalo Devi (PW-9), wife of Raj Kumar Thakur and daughter of the deceased Most. Gendiya Devi along with mukhiya, Jageshwar Yadav (PW-1) and some villagers went to