A murder accused at Lalbagh police station on Monday. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, July 8: Police arrested five persons, two of them associates of gangster Tito, in connection with the murder of Seikh Bazaar Puja Committee secretary Keshab Behera, who was gunned down on his way home yesterday.

The accused have been identified as Biswanath Behera alias Vellor, 29, Keshab Behera alias Mantu, 27, Prakash Behera alias Chakuli, 29, Debraj Behera alias Litu, 25, and Sayed Abdul Mataquid alias Munna Laden, 44.

Vellor, Mantu and Chakuli, who hail from Seikh Bazaar, are siblings, the first two being the henchmen of Tito. The police have recovered two country-made pistols, seven rounds of ammunition and a mobile phone from them. Cuttack deputy commissioner of police S. Praveen Kumar said the auction of shops at Chandi Mandir in the city was a major bone of contention between the accused and Behera, who was a popular figure at Seikh Bazaar.

“Keshab was targeted as he used to play an active role in various business deals, including auction of shops at Chandi Mandir and the cycle stands near the Bali yatra ground, at Seikh Bazaar,” said Kumar.

Vellor and Mantu had earlier secured licence to manage the cycle stands during Bali yatra and a few matches of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at Barabati Stadium, despite resistance from Behera. They resented Behera’s hold over the Seikh Bazaar Puja Committee, which has the sole right on the cycle stands and shops at Chandi Mandir.

Live ammunition, two revolvers and a cell phone seized from an accused

“My brother Keshab had received threats about two weeks ago. He was reluctant to hold the post of puja committee secretary but agreed following repeated requests from local residents,” said Keshab’s brother, Kishore Behera.

Apprehending a possible gang war, the police have beefed up security in various parts of the city, which had also witnessed two bombing incidents yesterday. More than three platoons of police have been deployed at strategic locations at Seikh Bazaar, Rovers Street, Bidanasi and some other parts of the city.

“We are keeping a close watch on the situation and steps are being taken to maintain law and order,” Kumar said.