( 1 ) THE present Criminal Appeal under section 374 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Code has been filed by Ram Iqbal and others against the judgment and order dated 1st August, 1977, passed by the jjnd Additional Sessions Judge, Ballia, in Sessions Trial No. 30 of 1976 (State of UP. v. Ram Iqbal), conviction the appellants under section 302 read with sectionl49, I. P. C. sentencing them to life imprisonment, convicting them under section 324/149 I. P. G, sentencing them to three years R. I. , convicting them under section 324/ 149 I. P,c, for causing hurt by means of spears to Sri Ramji and sentencing them to three years R. I. , convicting them under section 324/149 I. P. C. for causing hurt by means of spears to Sri Ram Singhasan and sentencing them to three years R. I. , convicting them under section 323/149 I. P. C. and sentencing them to six months R I. convicting, them under section 147 I. P. C. and sentencing them to two years R I. and also convicting them under section 148 I. P. C. and sentencing them to two years R. I. All the sentences were, however, directed to run concurrently.

( 2 ) THE case of the prosecution as unfolded in the first Information Report is