JUDGMENT

K. JAYACHANDRA REDDY, J.:—This is An appeal under Section 379, Cr. P. C read with S. 2 of the SC (Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) Act. There are five appellants. They were tried by Sessions Judge, Rupnagar for offences punishable under Sections 148, 302/149, 307, 323, 324, 325, I.P.C. and S. 27 of the Indian Arms Act for causing the death of Kaka Singh, the deceased in the case. The trial Court acquitted them. The State preferred an appeal against the said acquittal. The High Court set aside the order of acquittal and convicted each of them under S. 302/ 149, I.P.C. and sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life and also to undergo various other terms of imprisonment for other offences. The sentences were directed to run concurrently. The facts which give rise to this appeal are as follows.

2. The deceased Kaka Singh and the principal witnesses P.Ws. 18 and 19 belong to Village Chao Majra, P.S. Mubarakpur. P.W. 22 Mastan Singh was the Sarpanch of the Village. There was enmity between P.W. 22 and the accused and his family members because of some civil disputes. On 2nd December, 1978, the day of occurrence, the deceased along with his brother Prem Singh, P.W.