P.B. Suresh Kumar, J.

These appeals arise from S.C.No.604 of 2015 on the files of the Court of the Additional Sessions Judge-III, Thrissur. There were 10 accused in the case and the Court of Session acquitted all. Crl.Appeal.No.355 of 2020 is preferred by the State and Crl.Appeal (V) No.631 of 2017 is preferred by one of the victims, challenging the acquittal of the accused.

2. Deepak, who succumbed to the injuries sustained in an occurrence that took place on 24.03.2015 was an office bearer of the political party, Janatha Dal United (JDU). He was running a ration shop at a place called Pazhuvil Centre. At about 8.30 p.m. on the relevant day, while Deepak was standing in front of the ration shop, four persons armed with deadly weapons appeared unexpectedly to that place and two among them attacked Deepak with the weapons carried by them. Although a few persons standing on the opposite side of the road rushed to the said spot and attempted to prevent further attack on Deepak, one of the assailants created a scene of terror and others attacked even the said persons and then fled from that place in a Maruti Omni Van. Even though Deepak and others viz, Sajeev, Stalin and Suni