Judgment

SARKARIA, J. :- This appeal by special leave is directed against a judgment of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh. It arises out of these facts.

2. In Rompicheria village, there was factions belonging to three major communities viz., Reddys, Kammas and Bhatrajus. Ravavarapu (respondent No. 1 herein) was the leader of Kamma faction, while Chopparapu Subbareddi was the leader of the Reddys. In politics, the Reddys were supporting the Congress party, while Kammas were supporters of the Swatantra Party. There was bad blood between the two factions which were proceeded against under Section 107. Cr. P.C. In the Panchayat elections of 1954, a clash took place between the two parties. A member of the Kamma faction was murdered. Consequently, nine persons belonging to the Reddy faction were prosecuted for that murder. Other incidents also took place in which these warring factions were involved. So much so, a punitive police force was stationed in this village to keep the peace during the period from March 1966 to September 1967. Sarikonda Kotamraju, the deceased person in the instant case, was the leader of Bhatrajus. In order to devise protective measures against the onslaughts of