The arms, mobile phones and (above) motorcycles seized from the possession of the gang members. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Sept. 11: Madhupatna police today claimed to have foiled a robbery attempt by members of a group associated with gangster Tito and arrested four of them.

The four have been identified as Mohd Saqil, 20, of Kesharpur, Sheikh Abdula, 27, of Kesharpur, Mohd Asif, 25, of Pension Lane and Sheikh Kalim, 24, of Gorakabar in Cuttack.

They had assembled near Gadigosain Math area near Nuapada around 4am today.

One Mauser, three rounds of live bullet, a sharp-edged weapon, two country-made bombs, four mobile phones and two motorcycles have been seized from their possession, said inspector in charge of Madhupatna police station Suresh Dash.

Another police official said that all the four criminals worked for Rahul, who is said to be a key aide of gangster Tito. Cops are looking for Rahul in connection with the murder of Sheikh Bazar Puja Committee secretary Keshab Rout.

Rout was shot dead allegedly over some past rivalry while he was returning home on his scooter on July 7.

Besides, Saqil and Abdula were involved in the firing on a contractor near the official residence of the director general of police Prakash Mishra on Cantonment Road on May 6.

The contractor, Sibananda Bhagat, was shot at by the goons over a tender-fixing dispute. Subsequently, four persons, including prime accused Yunus Khan, were arrested on June 28.

Cantonment police are also considering to bring Abdula on remand for interrogation in connection with several incidents, including the firing of May 6.

Apart from their involvement in a number of dacoity and thefts, the gang is also involved in extortion and tender-fixing incidents in Cuttack and Jagatsinghpur.

The gang was also involved in a number of blank firing incidents within the limits of Darghabazar police.

All the four accused have been arrested under sections 399 and 402 of the Indian Penal Code, Section 25 of the Arms Act and Section 9(B) of the Explosives Act. They have been produced in the court.