Cuttack, June 1: Three persons were arrested in connection with the two firing incidents in the city last month. The accused have been identified as Seikh Kala Babu, 28, Seikh Rahul, 32, and Ricky Rout, 32.

Police have seized a revolver, a mauser pistol and four live bullets from their possession.

Sources said Seikh Kala and Seikh Rahul of Deewan Bazar fired at Riyaz alias Papu Bax near Chunabhatty lane on May 25. The incident had occurred around 11.30pm when Papu was returning home with his brother.

Papu, who had sustained a bullet injury on his back, was immediately rushed to SCB Medical College and Hospital.

The police said Papu, who had a criminal antecedent, used to work along with Seikh Kala and Seikh Rahul. All the accused were actively involved in a series of loot, robbery and extortion in the city.

“The firing was the fallout of the ongoing rivalry between the gang members. We have seized a revolver and three live bullets from the accused while two others are still absconding,” said additional deputy commissioner of police Guru Das Kundu.

Kundu said another accused, Ricky Rout, was arrested in connection with the firing incident that left a trader injured at Kalyani Nagar on May 26.

The trader, Srinivas Rout, sustained a bullet injury near his chest after two criminals had fired at him around 10pm. Srinivas used to run a stationery shop at Kalyani Nagar.

The police said the two accused, including Ricky and Prashant Rout, had picked up a quarrel with a person at Kalyani Nagar in the evening. Later, Prashant, in a bid to take revenge, had returned to Kalyani Nagar.

Though Srinivas was not the criminals’ target, he had come in the line of fire of the goons, said Kundu.

A mauser pistol and a live bullet have been recovered from Ricky while Prashant, who had fired at Srinivas, is still absconding.