The Central Crime Branch police on Sunday arrested a gang of eight and recovered two country-made pistols, eight live cartridges, an air gun and 500 ml of chloroform from them.
Police Commissioner T. Suneel Kumar said the inter-State gang was planning robberies in and around the city. Two of the accused confessed that they had come to the city to sell weapons. The accused have been identified as Shakeel Ahmed (24), from Hebbal; Shravan Khatri (32), from Rajasthan; Imran Khan (31), from Amaravathy; Jaleel Umar (29), from Bhatkal; Rafi Ahmed Khan (20), from Kolar; Syed Waseem (25), from Nagawara; Mohammed Hasan Ansari (43), from Mumbai; and Imran Raees (23), from Uttar Pradesh. They were caught with the weapons on Taralabalu Road in R.T. Nagar.
The accused had planned to lure businessmen by offering to sell them herbs, antiques and other items. Once the victim approached them with the cash, the gang planned to rob them at gun point.
Investigations revealed that the accused were also planning housebreaks. The police recovered cutters and other equipment to break open locks, Mr. Kumar said.
The accused have been taken into custody for eight days to ascertain their background and criminal activities.
Mr. Kumar announced a cash reward of ₹1 lakh to the CCB team for nabbing the gang .
