P. DEVADASS, J.

1. Out of the five accused, who were convicted and sentenced in S.C.No.187 of 2010 by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, (Fast Track Court), Dindigul, A.2 Xaiver Raj has directed this appeal. For the sake of convenience, throughout this appeal, we shall call him the appellant.

2. In the said Court, in the said case, A.2 stood charged for offences under Sections 342,148 and 302 r/w 34 IPC. After trial, on 9.2.2011, the learned Additional Sessions Judge, convicted A.2 under Sections 342, 148 and 302 r/w 34 IPC.

3. The learned Additional Sessions Judge sentenced him as under:

(i) under Section 342 IPC : 1 year rigorous imprisonment

(ii) under Section 148 IPC : 3 years rigorous imprisonment

(iii) under Sections 302 r/w 34 IPC : life imprisonment and fine Rs.1,000/- in default, 6 months simple imprisonment.

The learned Additional Sessions Judge directed that all the said sentences shall run concurrently.

4. To bring home the charges levelled against all the accused including the appellant, prosecution examined PWs.1 to 17, marked Exs.P1 to17 and exhibited MOs.1 to 17.

5. The case of the prosecution as set out in the said evidence may briefly be stated as u