Cuttack, Oct. 12: Police today arrested Ishwar Rout alias Chota Babu, the alleged mastermind behind a series of recent bombings at Badambadi bus stand.

Rout, 34, a Sankarpur resident in Badambadi police limits, is also allegedly a key player of the racket involved in extortion of money from private buses. The police said Rout was involved in the extortion and three murder cases apart from others. He was tracked down last night.

Rout was produced in court today. "Court of sub-divisional judicial magistrate, Cuttack, rejected his bail application. All the three wereThough there had been several complaints, the police could not intervene because the association had promoted it over the years.

"We have so far nabbed 25 goons, who are in jail. Most of them were involved in cases of extortion, attempt to murder and other criminal offences," said Cuttack assistant commissioner of police Anil Mishra.More than a thousand buses from various parts of the state and the city move in and out of the Badambadi bus stand every day.

"The supervisor system has to be wiped out," said Barik, who is also the deputy mayor.