The six appellants were tried by the Sessions Judge of Chittoor for offences under sections 147, 148, 323, 342, 365, 307 and 302 read with section 149, Indian Penal Code. The first accused was charged directly with murder but was acquitted of the said offence but convicted under section 304, Indian Penal Code. Similarly, the second accused was acquitted under section 307, Indian Penal Code but convicted under section 324, Indian Penal Code. Accused 1 to 3 were also convicted under section 148, Indian Penal Code and accused 4 to 6, under section 147, Indian Penal Code. Accused 1 to 5 were convicted under section 365, Indian Penal Code and accused 1 to 6 were convicted under section 342, Indian Penal Code. Such of the other accused who were not directly charged were convicted constructively for offences for which the other accused were convicted under the direct charge. They were sentenced to varying terms of imprisonment from six months to three years, the sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

On the 22nd of December, 1949, at about 4 p.m., there was undoubtedly a rioting at Regulavaripalle, in the course of which one Kuntadu was shot dead. The rioting itself was in conn