The government railway police (GRP) on Friday said they had stumbled upon a gang that was involved in a series of robberies in running trains under the Danapur railway division of the East Central railway (ECR).

At least three incidents of robbery had been reported from running trains between Danapur and Mokama railway stations in the past three weeks. The latest took place on June 22 when robbers targeted the passengers of the Patna-Sahebganj Intercity Express.

Patna superintendent of rail police Jitendra Mishra said four members of the gang, mostly young men between 18 and 22 years of age, were caught from different places on Friday.

The youths were enrolled to schools and colleges across the capital and used to take trains as passengers. They would rob other passengers in running trains. "We recovered three country-made pistols, 15 live cartridges and Rs 12,000 from them," said Mishra.

The youths confessed to the crime and said they had formed a group of 15 people hailing from villages falling under Khushrupur, Bakhtiyarpur and Fatuha police station in Patna rural.

"We are carrying out raids to nab the remaining gang members," said the officer.