G.S. AHLUWALIA, J.

1. This common judgment shall dispose of Cr.A. No.125/2008 filed by Horam, Cr.A. No.145/2008 filed by Veera and Ramhet, Cr.A. No.158/2008 filed by Jagdish and Cr.A. No.314/2008 filed by Munesh.

2. These appeals have been filed under Section 374 of Cr.P.C. challenging the judgment and sentence dated 7-1-2008 passed by IVth A.S.J., Morena, Distt. Morena in S.T. No.258/2000 by which the appellants have been convicted under Section 364-A of I.P.C. and have been sentenced to undergo the Life Imprisonment and a fine of Rs.50,000/- with default imprisonment. The appellant Jagdish has also been convicted under Section 25(1-B) (a) read with Section 3 of Arms Act and has also been sentenced to undergo the rigorous imprisonment of 3 years and a fine of Rs.5000/- with default imprisonment.

3. The prosecution story in short is that on 18-1-2000 an F.I.R., Ex.P.1, was lodged by Choudhary Singh (P.W.1) to the effect that today he along with other villagers had gone to attend the 13th day ceremony in the house of Hakim Singh. While they were coming back, Ram Prakash, Gayaram Singh, Kalicharan, Jasrath, Sultan Singh, Jagdish Singh, Rakesh Singh, Kaliyan Singh, Ramavtar Sin