Koraput: Police on Monday busted an inter-state gang of highway robbers and arrested six persons, including the kingpin, in the district.

One bolero, an auto-rickshaw, knives, iron rods and Rs 1 lakh in cash, which the gang had looted from a vehicle a few days ago, were also recovered from their possession at the time of arrest. The police said the robbers were arrested near the liquor manufacturing unit situated off Umuri in Jeypore Sadar police limits.

"The robbers were arrested when they were planning to commit a dacoity. They have confessed to have committed several highway robberies in Koraput, Malkangiri and Rayagada districts," said Jeypore Sadar police station inspector-in-charge Nirmal Mohapatra. The accused are identified as Daitari Chalan, Sanjib Hial and Pankaj Bagh of Nabarangpur district and Ishuraj Hial, Shantiraj Hial and Daitari Sagar of Jeypore, said the police.

He said the gang used to target people on the National Highway Nos. 26 and 326 passing through Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada and Nabarangpur districts.

Passers-by, particularly couples on motorbike or a small family in cars, would be the prime targets of the gang. The robbers would follow their targets either in auto-rickshaw or bolero and waylaid the vehicle in some isolated places to rob them of cash, jewellery and mobiles, said the police. "There are a total of 12 members in the gang. A special team has been formed to nab the absconding ones," he said.