State of Uttar Pradesh vs Balveer and Others

R.N. Misra, J.—This appeal has been preferred by the appellant- State of U.P. against the judgement and order dated 21.3.1990, passed by Sri Nand Lal Saxena, the then Special Additional Sessions Judge (Dacoity Affected Area), Agra in Special Sessions Trial No. 205 of 1985, by which the respondents were acquitted of the charge u/s 396 I.P.C.

The facts giving rise to this appeal are as under:

That the complainant-informant, Ratan Lal and the accused- respondents were residents of village Barmai, Police Station Matsaina, district Agra. In the intervening night of 27/28.12.1984 at about 1.00 A.M., the Dacoity took place in the houses of Ram Singh, Bhogi Lal and the complainant-informant Ratan Lal. All the cash, ornaments and other house hold affects were looted from their houses. First of all, the Dacoity. was committed in the house of Ram Singh. The dacoits 10 or 12 in number had fire arms, hatchet and spear in their hands. During the time of committing Dacoity in the house of Ram Singh, two of the dacoits namely Balvir Singh and Umesh Chandra were identified by Ram Singh and his wife Smt. Ram Murti. Ram Singh asked Balbir why he was committing Dacoity in his house being resident of same village and on this, Balbir made fire from the gun on Ram Singh, who sustained injuries and later on died. After looting the house of Ram Singh, the dacoits entered the house of Bhogi Lal and committed Dacoity there. Smt. Phool Mati and Smt. Ram Beti were injured by the dacoits. After that they committed Dacoity in the house of Ratan Lal also. In all the aforesaid houses, the doors were opened by the dacoits after cutting them by hatchet. To terrorize the village people, the dacoits made fire in the air also. When the dacoits left the place, Ratan Lal went to the house of Ram Singh. Some other-witnesses, namely, Swami, Rameshwar, Satya Prakash and Munni Lal also reached the house of Ram Singh, who had sustained firearm injury. Ram Singh told them that Balbir had made fire on him.

Ratan Lal lodged the F.I.R. Ext. ka-1 at police station Matsaina in the same night at about 3.15 A.M. The police registered a case under Sections 395, 397 I.P.C against Balbir and Umesh Chandra, who were named in the F.I.R. The injured persons Smt. Rambeti, Smt. Phoolmati and Smt. Ram Murti were examined in District Hospital, Firozabad. Another injured Ram Singh was referred to Agra, where his injuries were examined and lateron, he succumbed to his injuries. The dead body of Ram Singh was sent for postmortem examination and the postmortem report is Ext. Ka-16.

During the investigation, the Investigating Officer collected the evidence against accused-respondents, Rajendra, Mahesh Chandra and Suresh Chandra also and some witnesses told the Investigating Officer that they were also involved in the Dacoity and they identified them. When Ram Singh died, the case was converted u/s 396 I.P.C.

The Investigating Officer visited the spot prepared site plan, inspected the torches of witnesses, collected empty cartridge and blood stained wood of the doors. The blood stained clothes of Ram Singh were also inspected by the Investigating Officer. The Investigating Officer interrogated the witnesses and after completing the investigation, submitted charge sheet Ext. Ka-11 & Ka-12 against the respondents.

The accused-respondents denied the allegations levelled against them and alleged their false implications due to enmity. They were charged for the offence, punishable u/s 396 I.P.C.

In support of its case, the prosecution has examined PW-1 Smt. Ram Murti, PW-2 Smt. Phoolwati, PW-3 Swami, PW-4 Ratan Lal, PW--5 Rameshwar, PW-6 Satya Prakash, PW-7 Munni Lal, PW-8 constable Kshetra Pal, PW-9 Sub-Inspector Durga Prasad, PW-10, SI Raja Ram Singh, PW-11 Dr. A.K. Gupta, PW-12 Dr. Krishna Dutt Pathak, PW-13 Head Constable Jagmohan Singh, PW-14 Amar Singh, and PW-15 Constable Rajendra Prasad. The accused persons adduced no evidence in defence.

After considering the evidence on record and hearing the parties, the learned trial court came to the conclusion that the prosecution was unable to prove its case beyond all reasonable doubts against the accused respondents and by the impugned judgement and order, he acquitted them, against which this appeal.

We have heard the learned Counsels for the parties and perused the evidence on record.

The FIR of the incident was lodged by one Ratan Lal on 28.12.1984 at about 3:15 AM, whereas the dacoity had taken place in the intervening night of 27/28-12-1984 at about 1:00 AM. The distance of the police station from the place of occurrence was about five kilometres. Thus, there was a prompt FIR. In the FIR Ext.Ka-1, the details of the occurrence were given. The evidence on record show that the dacoity had taken place in the houses of deceased Ram singh and Smt. Phoolmati. From a plain perusal of the FIR Ext.Ka- 1, it appears that the dacoity was also committed in the house of the informant Ratan Lal but the evidence adduced by the prosecution rules out the dacoity in his house. Ratan La has been examined by the prosecution as PW-4. He has not stated a word about the dacoity in his house. He has stated that the FIR Ext.Ka-1 was written by him on the basis of the information given by the deceased Ram Singh, his family members, Smt. Phoolmati and Smt. Ram Beti. He has also claimed to'' be the eye-witness of this occurrence. On the basis of report Ext.Ka-1, the police registered the case as is evident from Chik report Ext.Ka-18 and started investigation. During the course of investigation, the Investigating Officer perused the torches belonging to the witnesses of the occurrence namely Swami, Rameshwar and Bakey Lal. He was told by these witnesses that they had identified the accused persons in the light of those torches. He prepared the memo Ext.Ka-7. He took two empty cartridges found on the spot and prepared memo Ext. Ka-8. He also found the blood on the wooden door of deceased Ram Singh and cut that part of wood and prepared memo Ext.Ka-9. The blood stained clothes of Ram Singh were also taken by him and memo Ext.Ka-10 was prepared.

The dacoity was allegedly committed in the intervening night of 27/28-12-1984 at about 1:00 AM in the house of Ram Singh and Bhogi Lal. During the course of dacoity, the fire was allegedly made on Ram Singh from the gun by one of the dacoits and Ram Singh sustained injuries and died. The prosecution has examined a number of witnesses to prove the factum of dacoity and involvement of accused-respondents.

PW-1 is Smt. Ram Murti, wife of the deceased Ram Singh. According to the prosecution case, the dacoits committed dacoity firstly in the house of Ram Singh. Smt. Ram Murti was also injured. She has stated that it was midnight, when the dacoits had broken the wooden door of her house and hearing the noise of breaking the door, she woke up. Her'' husband Ram Singh also woke up. She saw that five dacoits entered her house, who had torches in their hands. They were lighting the torches. She identified accused-respondents Balbir and Umesh Chandra in the light of torches of dacoits. They were residents of the same village. Since, the aforesaid two persons were well acquainted with the house owners, therefore, Ram Singh asked Balbir, why he was committing dacoity in his house being the resident of his village. On this, Balbir made fire from his gun. Ram Singh sustained injuries. PW-1 has further stated that when her husband fell down after receiving the firearm injury, she tried to save him and fell on him. Umesh Chandra and his associates assaulted her also by the blunt portion of hatchet possessed by them. She sustained injuries. She has further-stated that the total number of dacoits were five, who had entered her house and Some dacoits were standing outside the house. The dacoits looted the articles from her house. In her cross-examination, she has stated that the dacoits snatched the ornaments from her body also However, she could not state the details of all the articles looted by them. In the last part of her cross-examination, PW-1 has stated that accused-respondent Umesh Chandra had put gun on her breast, while snatching the ornaments from her body.

PW-2, Smt. Phoolmati is wife of Late Bhogi Ram in whose house also dacoits had looted the articles. She has Stated that in the relevant night, she was sleeping in her house along with Smt. Ram Beti, who was her Jethani. Her daughter-in-law was sleeping in another room. The dacoits came and asked her to open the door and when she did not obey, they had broken the door and entered the house. There were 10 or 11 dacoits who had hatchet, country made pistol and gun. As soon as the dacoits entered her house, they began to assault her. Smt. Ram Beti was also assaulted by them. There was the light of lantern burning there. She identified Umesh Chandra and Balbir, who were the residents of her village. She asked Balbir and Umesh Chandra, why they were doing so being the residents of same village. They replied " Tumahara Dinaag Chad Gaya Hai". They looted cash, ornaments etc. from her house.

PW-3, Swami, has stated that during the relevant night he was sleeping in the house of Hari Singh and on hearing noise, he woke up. He heard firing made by the dacoits. He came out of the house and concealed his presence near a wall from where the house of Bhogi Lal was visible. He saw that 10 or 11 dacoits came out of the house of Ram Singh and entered the house of Bhogi Lal and after that they went away from the side of house of Ram Singh. When the dacoits were coining out of house of Bhogi Lal, they had hatchet, gun and lathi. He identified Balbir, Umesh Chandra and Rajendra. He has further stated that the dacoits had torches in their hands and in the light of their torches he had identified them.

PW-4, Ratan Lal, the informant of the present case, has also stated that in the relevant night, he had heard the sound of firing. He woke up and saw that the dacoits were going towards the house of Ram Singh and Bhogi Lal. He was very much afraid, therefore, he went out of his house and came back when the dacoits had left the place. He went to the house of Ram Singh and Bhogi Lal and collected information regarding dacoity. Thus, it appears that Rat an Lal was not an eye-witness of dacoity.

PW-5, Rameshwar has also stated chat the dacoits had broken the doors of the house of Ram Singh and Bhogi Lal. He woke up and saw in the light of torch that 8 or 10 dacoits having gun, country made pistol, lathi and hatchet were coming out of the house of Ram Singh. He identified Balbir, Umesh Chandra and Rajendra. These dacoits committed loot in the house of Ram singh and Bhogi Lal. The aforesaid dacoits were identified by him being the residents of his village. When the dacoits went away, he reached the house of ?.am Singh and asked about the details of the dacoity.

PW-6, Satya Prakash, has also stated the same facts as given by the other witnesses. He has also stated that after hearing the noise coming out of the house of Ram Singh and Bhogi Lal, he woke up and concealed his presence near a Neom tree, which was situated near his house. He saw the dacoits, who were enlighting their torches. He identified Balbir, Umesh Chandra, Mahesh Chandra, Suresh Chandra and Rajendra, residents of his village. The dacoits left the place by making fire and enlighting the torches.

PW-7, Munni Lal, who has also given the same statement as given by other witnesses. He says that he had identified Suresh Chandra, Mahesh Chandra and Umesh Chandra.

Thus, it is evident that in the relevant night, the dacoity had taken place in the house of Ram Singh and Bhogi Lal and the household articles were looted by them. In that incident Ram Singh had sustained firearm injuries and died. Smt. Phoomati Devi, Smt. Ram Beti and Smt. Ram Murti had also sustained injuries in that occurrence. They were examined at Government Hospital, Firozabad. The injury reports are Ext.Ka-13 to Ka-15. Doctor A.K. Gupta, had examined their injuries who has been examined as PW-11 by the prosecution. He has proved the said injuries.

Smt. Ram Beti, whose injury report is Ext.Ka-13 sustained following injury:

Traumatic Swelling 6.0CM X 6.0 CM over all around the (Rt.) ankle joint.

In the opinion of Doctor, this injury was caused by a hard blunt object and was kept under observation. It was about 3/4 day old. Her medical examination was conducted on 28.12.1984 at about 1:00 PM.

Smt. Phoolmati Devi, whose medical examination was conducted on the same day at about 1:10 PM and whose injury report is Ext. Ka-14, sustained following injury:

Traumatic swelling 5.0 CM X 5.0 CM over dorsal side of Rt. Foot

In the opinion of Doctor, this injury was caused by any hard blunt object and was kept under observation. It was about 3/4 day old.

The third injured was Smt. Ram Murti, whose injury report is Ext. Ka-15.

She was medically examined at 1:20 PM on the same day. She sustained following injury:

Contusion 2.0 CM X 1.5 CM over (Lt.) scapular region. Colour is red.

In the opinion of Doctor, this injury was caused by any hard blunt object and was kept under observation. It was about 3/4 day old.

The deceased Ram Singh whose post-mortem report is Ext.Ka-16, was conducted by Dr. K.D. Pathak, PW-12 on 28.12.1984 at about 3:20 PM. The age of the deceased was about 50 years. The deceased had died in S.N. Medical College, Agra on the same day at about 6:10 AM. The following ante-mortem injury was found on his body.

Single Gunshot wound of entry 1.5 CM X 1.5 CM X cavity deep over upper part of left Buttock margins inverted blackening tattooing present around the wound. There is fracture of left side iliac bone in pieces.

In the internal examination, the Peritoneum was found ruptured at multiple places and about 1 pound of the blood was found present in the cavity. The 4 small pellets were also recovered from the abdominal cavity. Small intestine and Large Intestine were ruptured at many places. Six small pellets were recovered from the bowel. One cork piece was recovered from the bowel. The 9 small pellets were also recovered from pelvic portion.

In the opinion of Doctor, the death was caused due to shock and haemorrhage resulting from ante-mortem injuries. The injuries were sufficient to cause death in the ordinary course of nature.

In his cross-examination, Dr. Pathak has stated that the injuries were not such that immediately after sustaining them, the injured could become unconscious. He could even talk after sustaining injuries but not in a position to walk. He has further stated that the injuries could be caused by a gun. Thus, it is evident that Ram Singh died due to firearm injuries.

This is admitted fact that the complainant/informant, aggrieved persons and accused-respondents were residents of the same village. But in their statements all the eye-witnesses have named different persons However, the names of Balvir and Umesh Chandra were common in the statements of all the eye-witnesses of fact.

The additions of some accused namely Rajendra, Suresh Chandra and Mahesh Chandra were made by some witnesses. Smt. Ram Murti, the widow of the deceased Ram Singh has named Balvir and Umesh Chandra. She identified them, while committing dacoity. She has clearly stated that Balvir killed her husband by making fire from gun and she fell down on the body of her husband with a view to save him, but Umesh Chandra and his associates assaulted her from the blunt portion of the hatchet. As we have discussed earlier, she-had sustained injury.

According to Smt. Ram Murti, PW-1 there were five dacoits inside the house and some were standing outside the house. She has further stated that after committing dacoity, when the dacoits left her house, the village people assembled there and her husband Ram Singh told them immediately that Balvir had made fire on him.

PW-2 Phoolmati is the wife of Bhogi Ram whose house was also looted by dacoits. We have already discussed about, her injury. She also identified Balvir and Umesh Chandra. She has further stated that she asked Balvir and Umesh Chandra, why they were committing such a wrong act, they replied " Turaahara Dimag Chad Gaya Hai". In her statement she has clearly stated that dacoits assaulted her and Smt. Ram Bet from the blunt portion of the hatchet.

PW-3, Swami added the names of Rajendra. He has stated that when he was hiding near a wall and dacoits were returning back after committing dacoity, he identified Balvir, Umesh Chandra and Rajendra.

PW-4, Ratan Lal the informant of the present case, did not identify any dacoit while committing dacoity or running away but he has stated that when he visited the house of Ram Singh just after dacoity he was told by Ram Singh that Balvir made fire on him. The name of Balvir and Umesh Chandra were also told by Ram Murti Devi, Phoolmati and Ram Beti.

PW-5, Rameshwar has also stated that he had identified Balvir, Umesh Chandra and Rajendra.

PW-6, Satya Prakash has named Balvir, Uraesh Chandra, Mahesh Chandra, Suresh Chandra and Rajendra.

Since the accused persons were also residents of same village and it is alleged by the prosecution witnesses that the accused persons were flighting the torches possessed by them and in that light they had identified the dacoits, therefore, there was no reason for PWs-1, 2 and 3 to identify only two persons namely Balvir and Umesh Chandra. It appears that the names of Rajendra, Mahesh Chandra and Suresh Chandra were added later on with ulterior motive.

The Investigating Officer has also stated that none of the witnesses had named Mahesh Chandra, Suresh Chandra and Rajendra in his statement u/s 161 Cr.P.C. In the FIR also only Balvir and Umesh Chandra were named. PW-Ratan Lal has stated that the FIR was written by him after a talk with deceased Ram Singh, Smt. Phoolmati and Smt. Ram Murti. All the witnesses have stated that they had a talk with deceased Ram Singh and Smt. Phoolmati etc. just after dacoity. It is strange, why the witnesses did not name Mahesh Chandra, Suresh Chandra and Rajendra at the time of lodging the FIR. Thus, there is serious doubt about the involvement of these three accused persons in the dacoity.

This is admitted fact that all the prosecution witnesses are related with each other. PW-1 Smt. Ram Murti is the wife of deceased Ram Singh. She is the victim of the present case. PW-2 Smt. Phool Mati is also victim of the case. In her statement she has clearly stated that Ratan Lal, PW-4 is the younger brother of her husband Bhogi Ram. PW-3 Swami, is; the cousin of PW-4 Ratan Lal. PW-5 Rameshwar is the brother of deceased Ram Singh, as has been admitted at page 3 of his statement on oath. PW-6 Satya Prakash is the son of deceased Ram Singh. PW-7 Munni Lal, is the nephew of PW-4 Ratan Lal.

It appears form the evidence on record that the aggrieved persons and the prosecution witnesses of fact belong to ''Kumhar'' caste and accused-respondents were ''Gujar''. It also appears that their relations were not cordial as is evident from the statement of PW-4 Ratan Lal. He has slated that when ho reached the house of Ram Singh and asked about the incident he told him:

Xkako NksM tkuk ;g xwtj ugh NksMksxs] esjs cyohj us xkyh ekj nh gS A

Regarding the enmity between the parties PW-4 has seated that before the incident in question there was election of Gram Pradhan in the village in which Babu Ram was the contesting candidate against him (Ratan Lal). An page 5 of his statement, Ratan Lal has further staged that proceeding u/s 107 Cr.P.C was drawn against him along with Balvir, Umesh Chandra, Ramesh, Kailash, Satya Prakash and Munni Lal. Babu Ram, who had contested the election against PW-4 Ratan Lal, was the uncle of the present accused Balvir. PW-4 has further admitted this fact that there was marpeet between him and Ram Swaroop and in that case he was accused along with PW-3 Swami and Ranvir, the elder brother of the present accused-respondent Balvir, was the witness.

The learned Counsel for the accused-respondents has argued that there was enmity between the parties, therefore, Ratan Lal named the accused-respondents. But this argument has no force. Due to enmity in double edged weapon, if there is evidence of involvement of the accused in the crime, they cannot be exonerated from the charge due to enmity. As we have discussed earlier, out of five accused-respondents there is convincing evidence against two only namely Balvir and Umesh Chandra therefore, the three other accused-respondents namely Mahesh Chandra, Rajendra, and Suresh Chandra cannot be held guilty.

The learned Counsel for the accused-respondents has argued that the details of the looted property had not been'' given. Had there been any dacoity in the house of Ram Singh and Bhogi Ram. The details of the looted property would have been given. Since there is no such detail, therefore, the prosecution case is not believable. But we disagree with this contention. PW-1 Smt. Ram Murti has clearly stated that dacoits had taken her ornaments, which she was wearing at the time of dacoity. However, she could not give details of the other articles looted from her house. PW-2 Smt. Phool Mati has stated at page 2 about the details of the looted property. In para 4 of her statement, she has stated that the ornaments, clothes etc. were looted.

It was also alleged by the learned Counsel for the respondents that the evidence on record shows that accused had not tried to conceal their identity by putting "Dhata" on [their face whereas they were well acquainted with the victims being residents of same village, hence prosecution case cannot be relied upon. But this argument is not acceptable. It depends on the courage of the individuals. The dacoits were so daring that they would not have thought it necessary to conceal their identity and openly they committed the crime.

The learned Counsel for the accused-respondents has also argued that all the witnesses are interested and related witnesses therefore, testimony cannot be relied upon. But we see no force in this contention. The testimony of related and interested witnesses cannot be discarded solely on this ground. The law is well settled.

In the case of Ravi Vs. State Rep. by Inspector of Police, the Hon''ble Apex Court has opined as follows:

It is well settled in a catena of cases that evidence of all the eye witnesses cannot be rejected merely because they are related. The relatives will not exonerate the real culprits and falsely implicate others.

The statements of interested witnesses are scrutinsed with great caution.

In the case of Mehmood Alam Tariq and Others Vs. State of Rajasthan and Others, the following observations have been made:

Experience reminds us that civilized people are generally insensitive when a crime is committed even in their presence. They withdraw both from the victim and the vigilante. They keep themselves away from the court unless, it is inevitable. They think that crime like civil dispute is between two individuals or parties and they should not involve themselves. This kind of apathy of the general public is indeed unfortunate, but it is there everywhere whether in village life, towns or cities. One cannot ignore this handicap with which the investigating agency has to discharge its duties. The court instead of doubting the prosecution case for want of independent witness, must consider the broad spectrum of the prosecution version and then search for the nugget of truth with due regard to probability, if any, suggested by the accused. The court must bear in mind that witnesses to a serious crime may not react in a normal manner. Nor do they react uniformly. The horror stricken witnesses of a dastardly crime or an act of egregious nature may react differently. Their course of conduct may not be of ordinary type in the normal circumstances. The court, therefore, cannot reject their evidence merely because they have behaved or reacted in an unusual manner.

The aforesaid observations of the Hon''ble Apex Court has brushed aside this argument of the learned Counsel for the defence also that that most of the prosecution witnesses did not intervene during the dacoity or did not rush to the spot.'' being present there. As we have discussed earlier, most of the prosecution witnesses have stated that they were watching incident by hiding their presence near a wall or tree or well. The evidence on record show that the dacoits were armed with weapons and were more in number, therefore, unarmed people could not dare to intervene.

As we have discussed earlier, PW- Smt. Ram Murti, the wife of deceased Ram Singh was the eye-witness of the incident. In her presence and before her eyes, the fire was made by gun by the accused Balvir on Ram Singh and he died of the injuries. The other witnesses Phoolmati, Swami, Ratan Lal, Rameshwar, Munni Lal and Satya Prakash have clearly stated that when they reached the house of Ram Singh immediately after dacoity and talked him about the incident, ''he told them that Balvir had made fire on him from the gun. PW-6 Satya Prakash, is the son of Ram Singh. He was residing in another house belonging to him at the time of incident. His father Ram Singh was residing in the separate house. He has stated that he took Ram Singh to District Hospital, Firozabad but the Doctor referred him to Medical College, Agra. He was immediately brought to medical college, Agra where he succumbed to his injuries.

The learned AGA has contended that the statement of Ram Singh immediately after the incident before the prosecution ''witnesses about the fire made by Balvir has to be treated as dying declaration. This position has been disputed by the learned Counsel for the defence. He has argued that if Ram Singh was alive and was in a position to talk and was conscious, his statement should have been recorded by Magistrate, Doctor or police.

PW-12 Dr. K.D. Pathak, who had conducted the post-mortem examination of the deceased has stated at page 3 that the injuries of the deceased were not such that immediately after receiving injuries he would have become unconscious. He has further clearly stated that even after sustaining injuries, the injured must have been in a position to talk even for a period of 10 or 15 minutes. This medical opinion supports the statement of the prosecution witnesses that immediately after dacoity, they reached the house of Ram Singh who told them that Balvir had made fire on him.

In the case of M.L. Jain Vs. Union of India and another, the Hon''ble Apex Court has held that the oral declaration made by deceased before his wife and father can be relied upon and that declaration may be treated as dying declaration.

In the case of P.V. Radhakrishna Vs. State of Karnataka, the Hon''ble Apex Court has held that the dying declaration is only a piece of evidence and can be relied upon, if the other circumstances and evidence prove the prosecution case.

In the case of Mesu Dhondiba Vidhate v. State of Maharashtra, (2001) 10 SCC 63, the Hon''ble Apex Court has held that the oral dying declaration made by deceased before her father is acceptable in evidence. In that case, the lady had sustained 100 percent burn injuries. She was lying in the injured condition in a hut, which was locked with a chain from outside and accused-appellant was standing there. In those circumstances, the oral dying declaration of lady was made before her father. The Hon''ble Apex Court held that in the said circumstances there was no chance of tutoring or exaggeration.

In the case of Ghanashyam Das v. State of Assam 2005 (13) SCC 387, the Hon''ble Apex Court relied upon the oral dying declaration made by deceased to his companion.

In view of our above observations, we come to the conclusion that the prosecution has been able to prove its case beyond all reasonable doubts against the accused-It, respondents Balvir and Umesh Chandra. They, along with their associates (about 10-12 in number) committed dacoity at the house of Ram Singh and Smt. Phoolmati and looted the articles, caused injuries to ladies and Ram Singh who died later on due to firearm injury.

The prosecution case has not been proved beyond all reasonable doubts against accused-respondents Rajendra Singh, Mahesh Chandra and Suresh Chandra, therefore, the appeal against them stands dismissed. They are on bail, their bail bonds are cancelled and sureties are discharged. They need not surrender to their bail.

The accused-respondent Balvir had made fire on the If deceased Ram Singh and consequently he died. This was made during the course of dacoity. This is not a rarest case among the rare in which death penalty should be imposed therefore, in our opinion the imprisonment for life shall be sufficient [punishment. As regards the case of Umesh Chandra is [concerned he had participated in the dacoity and cause injuries to ladies referred to earlier. However, he did not cause death of anybody therefore, in the circumstances of the case, we think that the imprisonment for 10 years would be sufficient for him to meet the ends of justice.

The accused-respondent Balvir is convicted for the offence punishable u/s 396 IPC and is sentenced to imprisonment for life. He shall also pay fine of Rs. 5000/- only (Rs. five thousand only) and in default of payment of fine, he shall undergo additional R.I. for six months. The accused-respondent Umesh Chandra is convicted for the offence punishable u/s 396 IPC and is sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 10 years. He shall also pay fine of Rs. 5000/- only (Rs. five thousand only) and in default of payment of fine, he shall undergo additional R.I. for six months.

The accused-respondents Balvir and Umesh Chandra are on bail. Their bail bonds are cancelled and sureties are discharged. Issue non bailable warrant of arrest against them to serve out the sentences imposed above.

Let a copy of this judgement and order be sent to the C.J.M, Haryana within seven days for compliance, who shall submit report by 17.4.2007.