Crl.A.No.631 of 2008 is filed by A2 and Crl.A.No.656 of 2008 is fled by A1, A3 and A4, against the same judgment dated 20.08.2008 made in S.C. No. 15 of 2008 on the file of the Principal Sessions Court, Erode District. They were charged by the trial Court as tabulated hereunder:

Sl.No.	Charges framed against the accused persons	Section of Law
1	A1 and A2	Section 3(1)(x) of the SC and ST Act
2	A1 and A3	Section 323 IPC
3	A4	Section 324 IPC
4	A2	Section 307 IPC (2 counts)
5	A3	Section 307 IPC
6	A1 to A4	Section 427 IPC

They were convicted and sentenced as follows by the trial Court:

Sl. No.	Rank of accused	Conviction under Section	Sentence of Imprisonment	Fine
1	A1	323 IPC	six months rigorous imprisonment	-
2	A2	326 IPC	five year rigorous imprisonment	Rs. 3000/-, i/d one year rigorous imprisonment
		324 IPC	two years rigorous imprisonment	-
3	A3	323 IPC	six months rigorous imprisonment	-
		324 IPC	two years rigorous imprisonment	-
4	A4	324 IPC	two years rigorous imprisonment	-

The trial Court ordered the sentences imposed on A2 and A3 to run concurrently. The trial Court acquitted A1 and A2 of the charge under Section 3(1)(x) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and A1 to A4 were acquitted of the charge under Section 427 IPC.

2. The case of the prosecution leading to conviction of the appellants/A1 to A4, in brief, is as follows:

P.W.1/de-facto complainant belongs to SC/ST community. He was working in a Mill. On 01.06.2007, there was a temple festival in Arulmighu Mariamman Temple at Muthur. In the said festival, there was a dance programme/light music programme, in which, P.W.1's brother, namely Thangaraj (P.W.4) was assaulted by the accused persons, pursuant to which, on 04.06.2007 at about 1.30 p.m., P.W.1/complainant questioned the said act and enquired about the assault made by the accused persons on P.W.4. While so enquiring, A1 pushed P.W.1 and abused him by mentioning his caste name. When P.W.1 raised a hue and cry, A2 came with Aruval (M.O.1), A3 with wooden log (M.O.3) and A4 with iron pipe (M.O.2) came to the spot and attacked P.W.1 with those weapons. At that time, P.W.1's another brother, P.W.2-Mani came running and prevented A2 from attacking P.W.1. A2 abused P.W.2 by mentioning his caste name and also attacked him with M.O.1 Aruval and caused cut injuries indiscriminately. On seeing this incident, P.W.1's elder brother, namely P.W.3 Palanisamy ran to the spot and when P.W.3 made an attempt to lift P.W.2, A2 caused cut injury on the head of P.W.3 with M.O.1 Aruval. A3 attacked P.W.3 with M.O.3 wooden log indiscriminately on his hands and legs. Similarly, A4 attacked P.W.1 with M.O.2 iron pipe. The accused persons have also damaged a TVS-50 two-wheeler (M.O.4) belonging to P.W.6 Kuppusami, which was brought by P.W.1. In the above occurrence, P.Ws.1 to 3 sustained injuries. On knowing the same, P.W.6 went to the place of occurrence and thereafter, P.Ws.4 and 6 informed about the occurrence to the Police Station over telephone. Subsequently, the injured victims, namely P.Ws.1 to 3 were taken to Government Hospital in an ambulance. P.W.11 Sub-Inspector of Police, on receipt of the intimation from the hospital at about 18 hours, went to the hospital and obtained statement (complaint) from P.W.1/de-facto complainant. Thereafter, P.W.11 came back to the Police Station and registered the FIR in Cr.No.372 of 2007 for the offences punishable under Sections 324, 506 (Part-2), 427, 379 (np) IPC read with Section 3(1)(x) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. On 05.06.2007, P.W.11 took up the case for investigation and went to the place of occurrence and prepared Ex.P-3 observation mahazar and drew Ex