KUMMARI RAMANNA Vs. STATE OF A P

JUDGEMENT

(1.) A-1 and A-2 in S.C.No. 502/96 on the file of the Sessions Judge, Kurnool, are the appellants. They were tried on charges framed U/s 302, IPC or in the alternative on the charge framed U/s 302 r/w 34 IPC, and they were found guilty of the said charge and accordingly convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

(2.) The substance of the charges against the accused is that on 22-11-1995 at about 9.00 a.m. in between Nagendra Nagar and NTR Nagar of Kallur Village, in the foot-path in the cholam field, A-1 (Kummari Ramanna) and A-2 (Kummari Lakshmanna) committed the murder of one Kummari Pakiraiah (hereinafter referred to as the deceased) by attacking him with hunting sickle and dagger.

(3.) The case of the prosecution is that the deceased is the husband of P.W.1 (Kummari Govindamma) and son of P.W.2 (Kummari Sanjanna). They were originally natives of Sankirenipalli village of Nandikotkur Taluk. As most of their lands were submerged under Srisailam Project, they migrated to Kurnool about 7 years ago and residing in Nagendranagar near Radio Station by purchasing a plot. They are eking out their livelihood by maintaining buffaloes and vending milk. Pakiramma, the daughter of P.W.2, was given in marriage to Venkataswamy of Musalimadugu, who is brother of A-1 and A-2. They are also residing in Nagendranagar near the house of the deceased. The accused and their brother Venkataswamy were maintaining lorries and eking out their livelihood by hiring lorries. Venkataswamy used to harass and beat his wife suspecting her fidelity. When P.W.2 and the deceased intervened, they were also beaten. The accused and Venkataswamy tied the deceased to a pole and beat him about one month prior to the occurrence. Again on the next day, when the deceased was returning after delivering milk, the accused caught hold of him and beat him. The accused were taken into custody on the report given by P.W.1. They were later let off as Pakiramma, the daughter of P.W.2 pressed for a compromise. Thereafter also, the accused and their brother used to harass Pakiramma. Thus, there were misunderstandings between the families of the accused and the deceased. Ten days prior to the occurrence, the accused threatened the deceased with dire consequences by going to his house along with their brother Venkataswamy.