Bhubaneswar, Sept. 7: Nayapalli police last night arrested nine persons from Ekamra Villa area while they were planning a robbery and seized an autorickshaw, a two-wheeler, a gas cutter and some sharp weapons from them.

These criminals, who hailed from Ganjam, Cuttack, Puri and Nayagarh districts, were sent to Jharapada jail after a local court rejected their bail pleas today.

“We found them roaming around on the backside of Ekamra Villa during night patrolling. During interrogation, they confessed of planning for a robbery,” said a senior police officer of the Nayapalli police station.