Dhubri, June 8: Six robbers, Ali Hussain, Goutam Kalita, Ritul Ali, Mohammad Rafique, Iddrish Ali and Mazar Ali, were arrested in the wee hours today near Rangia by Barpeta police and the loot recovered.

The gang of 12 robbers, who boarded a Siliguri-bound bus from Dhekiajuli at Simlaguri bus stop in the guise of passengers, stopped the bus and robbed everyone at gunpoint on a bridge over Beki river under Sorbhog police station around 12.30am.

A police source said after the robbery, the dacoits got into two Alto cars and sped away towards Rangia. The driver of the bus reported the incident in Manikpur police station and a police team, led by Barpeta superintendent of police Debojit Mukherjee, started an operation to arrest them. The cops arrested one group at 4.30am. The other group fled leaving behind their car, the source added.

The police recovered two pistols with four rounds of ammunition and the two Alto cars.

Two mobile handsets, Rs 6,200 in cash, gold ornaments and one taperecorder belonging to the passengers were also recovered, the source said.

The police were still continuing the operation to track down the rest of the gang, a senior police officer in Barpeta district said.