Cuttack, July 10: Badambadi police have arrested three associates of gangster Tito, who had allegedly orchestrated the murder of Seikh Bazaar Puja Committee secretary Keshab Behera.

The cops nabbed them last night while they were allegedly plotting a dacoity near Jaleswar Temple at Khan Nagar. Two goons managed to escape.

The cops seized one Mauzer, four rounds of bullets, a sharp weapon, a knife and four mobile phones from them. The accused have been identified as Sayed Khan, 26, of Mica lane, Ganesh Naidu, 27, of Lalbagh and Manoj Jati, 21, of Bangali Sahi area within the limits of Purighat police station.

A senior officer of Badambadi police station said Sayed Khan had criminal antecedents and several cases of loot, dacoity and murder were pending against him.

The criminal antecedents of other accused are also being verified, said inspector in charge of Badambadi police station Ranjit Prusty.

Apart from this, five goons involved in Behera’s murder were also arrested.