registered against all the four accused for the offence under section 302 IPC. The Sub Inspector of Police Satish Verma, during the course of investigation, inspected the scene of crime and prepared inquest report (Ext.A4) on the body of the deceased and site plan (Ext.A9). On 31.10.1997, the Investigating Officer recorded the statements of the witnesses; recovered one country-made pistol 12 bore and one empty cartridge concealed in the field of Dharmdas under a transformer, on pointing out by the appellant; and prepared recovery memo (Ext.A3) and plan for the place of recovery (Ext.A10). That apart, the Investigating Officer collected bloodstained soil and plain soil (Ext.A5) and took possession of the articles viz., a torch with three batteries (Ext.A2), a bloodstain cot (Ext.A6), a quilt-cover, a cotton blanket and a quilt (Ext.A7) and a lantern (Ext.A11). Thereafter, the body of the deceased Abdul Hameed along with inquest report (Ext.A4) was sent for post-mortem. Dr.R.K.Verma,