1. The two appeals arise out of the same case and may be disposed of by a common judgement. Ten persons were tried by the learned Sessions Judge of Nellore for alleged offences under S.147, S.148, S.302 read with 34, 302 read with 149 etc., Penal Code, A - 1 to A - 8 and A - 10 were acquitted of all charges while the ninth accused was convicted of an offence under S.304, Penal Code but acquitted of other charges. The 9th accused who was sentenced to 7 years rigorous imprisonment for the offence under S.304 is the appellant in Criminal Appeal No. 455 of 1967 while all ten accused are respondents in Criminal Appeal No. 676 of 1967, which is an appeal filed by the State against the several acquittals recorded by the learned Sessions Judge on various charges.

2. The facts of the case are briefly as follows :
P.W. 6, Sakamuri Chinnamma is the widow of Venkatasubbaiah, brother of the 1st accused. Soon after her husband's death about ten years prior to the occurrence Chinnamma went to live with her parents in Cuddapah District leasing out her properties in her husband's village to the 1st accused. As she was experiencing considerable difficulty in realising from the 1st accused the maktha d