( 1 ) THESE two appeals are connected with each other, having arisen out of the same judgment dated 24. 11. 1981 passed by Sri S. N. Tiwari, the then II Additional Sessions Judge, Ghazipur in sessions Trial Nos. 282 and 337 of 1980. Vijay Yadav, Umesh Kumar Sinha and Ram Pravesh alias Pankhia alias Ganesh were tried in Sessions Trial No. 282 of 1980 and Surendra Kumar singh in Sessions Trial No. 337 of 1980. All the four have been convicted under Section 396 i. P. C. and sentenced to life imprisonment.

( 2 ) WE propose to decide the two appeals by this common judgment. The appellants in Criminal appeal No. 152 of 1982 are Vijay Yadav and Ram Pravesh alias Pankhia alias Ganesh whereas surendra Kumar Singh and Umesh Kumar Sinha are the appellants in connected Criminal appeal No. 153 of 1982. At the hearing of the appeal, none appeared from the side of the appellants, though the appellants of Criminal Appeal No 152 of 1982 are represented on record by Sri Gajendra Pratap. Advocate. The appellants of Criminal Appeal No. 153 of 1982 are represented on record by Sri Narendra Kumar, Advocate. We are deciding the appeals on merits after hearing learned A. G. A. and going thr