JUDGMENT :

J.J. Munir, J.

1. This judgment will dispose of Criminal Appeal No.6987 of 2009 and the connected Criminal Appeal No.6988 of 2009, both arising from the judgment and order of Mr. Umesh Chandra, the then Additional Sessions Judge/ Fast Track Court No.1, Etah dated 27.10.2009, convicting the appellants, Pradeep and Akhilesh in Sessions Trial No.149 of 2007 of the offences punishable under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC and the appellant, Akhilesh alone in Sessions Trial No.148 of 2007 of the offence under Section 25 of the Arms Act, 1959, [for short, 'the Arms Act']. The appellants have been sentenced in the manner as hereinafter detailed. While the appellants, Pradeep and Akhilesh have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the offences punishable under Section 302 read with Section 34, Indian Penal Code, 1860, [for short, 'IPC'], the appellant, Akhilesh has been sentenced separately for the offence under Section 25 of the Arms Act to suffer three years' rigorous imprisonment. The appellants have further been sentenced to a fine of Rs.5000/- each for the offence