Kendrapara: The crime branch's Special Task Force (STF) on Friday conducted raids on the houses of arrested gangster Seikh Usman Ali alias Tito and his accomplices to gather evidence against the arrested criminal.

Tito was injured on June 30 in an encounter with the STF near Chandikhole in Jajpur district. Tito, accused of heading a well-knit crime syndicate and perpetrating in a series of crimes across the state, had suffered bullet wounds after he had allegedly opening fire at the cops, who later retaliated. The gang leader has been taken on a five-day remand by the STF. "We have conducted raids on the houses of Tito and his accomplices. It is still continuing. We received feedback that the gangster and his family members had amassed huge movable and immovable assets. We are hopeful of getting vital clues in this connection," said an STF official.

"Incriminating documentary and material evidences were collected during the raids at several places. We have come across ample corroborative evidence that insinuates towards Tito's criminal activities," said the STF's deputy inspector general Himanshu Lal.

"We are looking into accumulated movable and immovable assets by him. Both the material and documentary evidences are being verified," he said.

Tito's crime records date back almost to three decades. In 1989, he had allegedly assaulted one person during the course of an exhibition football match. His relationship with some of his key accomplices such as Hyder and Suleiman later turned sour, and they subsequently broke away from his group. Hyder and Suleiman had also formed rival groups. There were incidents of gang rivalry between the groups of Tito and Hyder in the past that had claimed 18 lives. Tito's rival gangster, Suleiman, was also among those who were gunned down in the clashes.