Cuttack, March 12: Process started today to shift the arrested gangster siblings, Sushant and Sushil Dhal Samant, from Choudwar jail to Bhubaneswar and Balasore jail.

"I am waiting for the requisition from the superintendent of Choudwar jail to provide police escort for shifting the Dhal Samant brothers," said deputy commissioner of police Sanjiv Arora.

The duo were lodged in Choudwar jail, 11km from here, after the police remand period expired on February 28. Both had been in police remand for 24 days in four phases for custodial interrogation following their arrest on January 29.

The petition had expressed apprehension that there was every possibility of the gangster siblings continuing their criminal network from inside the prison if they are lodged in Choudwar jail. The shift is intended to prevent them from regrouping, along with several of their associates lodged in the same jail, an official said.

A petition seeking permission to shift them to two different jails having videoconference facility was moved on behalf of the state in the SDJM court.

"The SDJM, Cuttack, Bijay Kumar Das, has allowed our petition to shift Dhal Samant brothers to Bhubaneswar jail and Balasore jail," assistant public prosecutor Biswajit Baral said today.

In another development, the police today arrested one Nibas Behera alias Mantu, who had alleged links with the duo. Mantu, involved in eight cases, including attempt to murder, kidnapping and arms act, was allegedly an associate of duo in extortion activities, the police said.

Besides, family members of Dipu Mallick and Omprakash Swain were called to Chauliaganj police station for questioning today. The brothers had allegedly kidnapped and murdered Dipu and Omprakash, who were their close associates.