Bhubaneswar, March 14: Police have arrested four persons, including a suspected henchman of former Congress legislator from Sanakhemundi, Ramesh Jena, while they were planning to commit a robbery near the Kuakhai river.

On March 6, Berhampur police arrested Jena in connection with a string of criminal cases.

The police said Jena's henchman, identified as Santosh Behera, was arrested, along with Manoranjan Khatai, Alok Behera and Kabi Biswal, last night from Mancheswar police limits. The cops have seized a pistol, five bullets and a sharp-edged weapon from the group.

The police have also found a passport size photograph of Jena in Behera's wallet. Besides, Behera had a screensaver of the former legislator on his mobile phone.

"Behera had been associated with Jena for the past four years and was involved in around 20 ceases of murder, extortion and tender fixing in Ganjam district," said a police official.

The police also said Behera had taken admission in a city-based karate school. The identity card of the karate school also stated Behera's address at Unit-IV MLA Colony in Bhubaneswar. Berhampur police have also seized two photographs of Behera standing with two SUVs of the former Congress legislator.

Later, a team of Berhampur police reached Bhubaneswar and interrogated Behera. "Preliminary investigation revealed that Behera had supplied arms to Berhampur Municipal Corporation councillor Ranjit Nayak. We also strongly suspect Behera of involving in the trading of illegal arms. We would apply to the court seeking his remand," said a police official.

Last week, Berhampur police had arrested Ranjit on charges of extortion.

A senior police official said Jena was using four houses in Bhubaneswar as his hideouts. "Jena has employed a number of youths in his gang to carry out several crimes. We are investigating whether Jena was involved in the tender-fixing racket in Bhubaneswar as well," he said.

The police said that acting on a tip-off about criminals gathering near the Kuakhai, they conducted the raid. While one man managed to escape, the cops nabbed the four accused. "We are verifying whether Behera and his associates are involved in any crime in Bhubaneswar," said deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi.

A number of criminal cases are pending against the former legislator in Ganjam district. In February 2011, when Jena was residing in an apartment at Kharavela Nagar, the police had raided his residence.

During the raid, there was a gunfight between his aides and the police leading to the arrest of the legislator.