- (1.) THE appellants 1 to 3 were arrayed as A -1, A -2 and A -3 before the Sessions Judge, Gumla. They were charged under Section 302/34 of the Indian Penal Code, on the allegation that between 24.8.1989 and 25.8.1989 they caused the death of the deceased Ignes Master. The trial court, finding the accused -appellants guilty, as charged, sentenced them to imprisonment for life, which is under challenge in this appeal.
(2.) THE deceased, Ignes Master, is the father of PW -5, George Munda. He left the house on 24.8.1989 to go to Orga Bazar. He did not return home. The inmates of the house thought that the deceased would have gone to visit his relatives. On 26.8.1989, the wife of the deceased went to Purnapani in the State of Orissa but could not find her husband. On 27.8.1989, she went in search of her husband, accompanied by the other villagers. When they were near the bank of a river, they found a body floating. The body was brought out and it was identified to be the body of the deceased. George Munda, the son of the deceased, went to Orga Police station and gave a complaint. The said Fardbayan is Ext. 5, on the basis of which a crime was registered and investigation was taken up. During the course of investigation, witnesses were examined and thereafter the body was sent for medical examination.
(3.) ON receipt of the dead body and the requisition, PW -6, Dr. Bijay Shankar conducted post mortem on the dead body. He did not find any external injury. On opening the thorax, the doctor found fracture of the 3rd, 4 th and 5 th ribs on the left side. He also found fracture of 4th and 5th ribs on the right side. The doctor issued Ext. 3, the post mortem certificate, opining that death could be on account of mechanical pressure on the chest wall or by pressing the chest wall with hand or feet.;