Cuttack, March 1: Police are planning to shift the gangster siblings - Sushant and Sushant Dhal Samant - from Choudwar circle jail to other prisons for security reasons.

A petition in this regard will shortly be filed in the local court in Cuttack, police commissioner Y.B. Khurania told The Telegraph today.

Sources said the police, in their petition before the court, might pray for keeping the brothers separately in different jails. At present, a few associates of the criminal duo are also lodged at Choudwar jail.

"We will pray to the court to shift Sushant and Sushil Dhal Samant to different jails due to security reasons. The aim is to not allow the brothers to regroup with their associates and operate," said Khurania.

The shifting move will also play a crucial role in putting a check on gang war inside Choudwar jail, where many criminals belonging to the rival gangs of Dhal Samant brothers are lodged.

The police said the move was aimed to ensure that the gangster brothers did not operate their crime syndicate from Choudwar jail, which lacked basic security arrangements.

Sources said the bulk of the closed-circuit television cameras and mobile jammers at Choudwar jail, where over 700 prisoners, including the undertrials, are lodged, were not functioning properly.

The non-functioning of the CCTVs was detected during a police raid on Choudwar jail in September 2015. Objectionable items, including an LCD TV, a few pen drives, two sharp weapons and other narcotics substances, were also seized during the raid.

Despite several attempts, the Choudwar jail officials could not be contacted regarding security measures at the circle jail.

In another development, Chauliaganj police today arrested Antaryami Sahoo, 45, brother of a local councillor belonging to the BJD, for allegedly demanding extortion from local businessmen. Sahoo is also facing three warrants in three separate cases against him at Chauliaganj police station.

The police crackdown on criminals in the city has been stepped up after the arrest of the Dhal Samant brothers.

In a related development, the district administration today cancelled the sand mining contracts issued to one Bijay Pal, an associate of the gangster siblings. Chauliaganj police had earlier arrested Sahoo. The police said the duo with their extensive network had been controlling sand mining in the city and around. The business has very high returns considering the investment.

Marik files case

Former director general of police Sanjeev Marik today filed a criminal defamation case in the Bhubaneswar sub-divisional judicial magistrate's court against former inspector general of police Anadi Sahu for making allegations against him related to the Dhal Samant case.

"I am going to file a civil suit against him soon. The draft paper is ready," said Marik.

Sahu had alleged that Ravindra Sethi, the former stenographer of Marik, acted as the middleman between Marik and the Dhal Samant brothers. He also alleged that Marik had visited the farmhouse of the gangsters at Athgarh where the two sharp-shooters of Dhal Samants were allegedly killed. The former IGP had also hinted that Sethi used to collect money for Marik from builders.

Responding to the development, Sahu said: "I will now get a chance to expose Marik's corrupt practices. There is nothing wrong in calling corrupt corrupt."