He was a havildar but worked for a gang of robbers, until his luck ran out. Arun Yadav (50) was arrested from Rohtas on Tuesday.

The havildar would tip off his seven-member gang who would target people on their way home after withdrawing money from banks.

The people would be robbed in areas falling under the jurisdiction of the Dalmianagar and the Dehri police stations in Rohtas.

Arun was posted in Rohtas for nearly two decades.

Before his arrest, he was heading a team of 10 homeguard jawans assigned to guard nationalised banks in Rohtas, around 165km west of Patna.

Police said Arun has confessed to his crime and disclosed the names of seven other members.

The gang was involved in at least 24 incidents of loot and pickpocketing.

The gang was mostly active in areas falling under the jurisdiction of Rohtas and Aurangabad districts in south and central Bihar.

Arun was forwarded to jail on Wednesday.

Station house officer of Dalmianagar police station Ram Ekbal Yadav said two gang members, Lal Babu and Shailendra Kumar Rai, were arrested on Tuesday on the statement of Arun.

Another member, Bipul Yadav, was arrested from Mathurapur on Wednesday. Police said Bipul was earlier involved in the murder of a railway driver at Dehri-on-Sone on February 2 and was sent to jail on the charge of gangrape.

Four other members of the gang, including a woman, are absconding.

An investigating officer said: "Hema and her associate Naga Ansari are absconding. Hema, a professional dancer, used to provide her motorbike to the members, who would provide her a fixed amount in lieu."

Gopal Bhagat, a resident of Dalmianagar, was the latest victim of the gang. He was robbed of Rs 20,000 while returning home after withdrawing the money from the the State Bank of India branch. To his surprise, the gangsters approached him straight away, as if they were acquainted with him.

Station house officer Ekbal said: "Bhagat had suspected foul play as he was approached by three robbers near NTPC turning, hardly 600m from the bank. Moreover, after the crime was committed, he had heard one of the gang members telling someone over phone that Kam ho gaya (The work has been done)."

The havildar's role came under the scanner after the incident was reported to the police station. The call details of his cellphone revealed that he was in constant touch with the gangsters.

The station house officer said raids were on to arrest the other associates.

Rohtas superintendent of police Shivdeep Lande announced he would reward the police officers for busting the gang. He has also instructed the investigating officers to gather more evidence against the accused.

However, this is not an isolated incident. Earlier, a constable, identified as Sanjiv Kumar alias Pappy Singh, was arrested from Nalanda district for allegedly running a gang of bank robbers.

In another incident, Rupesh, a constable, was nabbed recently for his alleged involvement in the loot of gold from a goldsmith in East Champaran.