The appellants have preferred this appeal against. the judgment and order dated 14-10-1988, passed by the Sessions Judge, Nainital, in S.T. No. 52 of 1986, whereby the accused/appellants were convicted U/S 302/34 I.P.C.; 324/34 I.P.C.; 324/34 I.P.C. and 323/34 I.P.C. and each of them were sentenced to imprisonment for life U/S 302/34 I.P.C.; three years R.I. U/S 324/34 I.P.C.; further three years R.I. U/S 324/34 I.P.C. and six months R.I. U/S 323/34 I.P.C. However, all the sentences were to run concurrently.

2. The prosecution version which led to the trial of the accused/appellants is as follows :-

Km. Maya Kaur, daughter of accused Mansha Singh had been engaged with one Shamsher Singh S/o Gurdayal Singh, resident of Village Kalyanpur. Some time later the engagement was broken. Accused Mansha Singh and other members of his family felt that Kala Singh had played a role which led to the breaking of said engagement. As a result Munsha Singh and his other family members were angry with Kala Singh and his other family members. Two days prior to the present incident, when Kala Singh reached in front of the door of the house of Munsha Singh, on the way to his home, the accused M