JUDGMENT

1. These four appeals are directed against the judgment dated 20th September, 2011 passed by the Additional Sessions Judge (Fast Track Court-II), Bhadrak in Sessions Trial No.91/66 of 2007-09 convicting the Appellants for the offences punishable under Sections 395, 396 & 397 IPC and Sections 25 & 27 of the Arms Act and sentencing them as under:

I. to undergo imprisonment for life each and a fine of Rs.1000/- and in default to undergo further six months rigorous imprisonment (RI) each for the offence under Section 396 IPC;

II. to undergo RI for ten years each and fine of Rs.1000/- and in default to undergo further RI for six months each for the offence under Section 395 IPC;

III. to undergo RI for seven years each for the offence under Section 397 IPC;

IV. to undergo RI for three years each and fine of Rs.500/- and in default to undergo RI for three months each for the offence under Section 25 of the Arms Act;

V. to undergo RI for three years each and fine of Rs.500/- and in default to undergo RI for three months each for the offence under Section 27 of the Arms Act; all the sentences were directed to run concurrently.

2. At the outset, it must be mentioned that seventeen persons