JUDGMENT :

Mr. N.S. Shekhawat J.

By way of the present appeal, the appellant has challenged the impugned judgment of conviction dated 12.09.2011 and order of sentence dated 20.09.2011,passed by the Court of Additional Sessions Judge, Karnal, whereby the present appellant has been convicted for the offence punishable under Section 302 of IPC and was sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life and to pay a fine of Rs.5000/-, along with default stipulation. In fact, in the present case, three accused namely Sompal, Karam Singh @ Karmu and Mandeep were initially tried by the Trial Court. However, Sompal and Karam Singh @ Karmu were ordered to be acquitted by the Trial Court by extending them the benefit of doubt, whereas, the present appellant was convicted, as indicated above.

2. The prosecution story, as it emanates from the report under Section 173 Cr.P.C, is that the FIR Ex.P-17 in the present case was registered on the basis of the statement made by Mange Ram son of Shankar. As per the complainant, he had three sons namely Rakam Singh, Rajbir and Mohinder Singh. His sons Rakam Singh and Rajbir used to live separately with their families near the Phirni of the village and his son Mohin