Bhubaneswar, Feb. 28: Four suspects involved in the attack on minister of law, culture and tourism Maheshwar Mohanty were arrested by Odisha police yesterday.

Director-general of police, Prakash Mishra, said: “They were picked up in Andhra Pradesh while they were returning from Karnataka. They are being brought to Odisha for detailed interrogation.”

Sources said they were caught from Anantpuram district in Andhra Pradesh. Puri police is likely to hold a media conference tomorrow to give the details of the arrest and to explain the conspiracy behind the attack on Mohanty, who was shot at in Puri on February 21 while returning home on his scooter after attending a party meeting.

Local people rushed him to the district headquarters hospital. After preliminary treatment at the district headquarters hospital, he was brought to Bhubaneswar and was admitted to a private hospital. Later, a bullet was removed from his chest. Mohanty’s health condition has improved and is stated to be stable. Sources in the police said the attack seemed to be the outcome of a property-related dispute.

In August 2012, Talachhu Bhagaban Mohapatra alias Guna Singhari, a BJD councillor, was murdered overland dispute. “There is some link between the murder of the councillor and the attack on the minister, who had began his political career as a local councillor. We are analysing the statements of some of the eye witnesses,” a senior police officer associated with the investigation said.

Sources said the police were also inquiring whether the close aide of Mohanty, Krushna Chandra Pratihari, one of the accused in the Guna Singhari murder case, who got bail two weeks ago, had any connection with attack on the minister. The police also seized the revolvers and four vehicles used in the attack.