Eight criminals were arrested and three pistols were seized from them following raids carried out by the the police on Saturday morning. Those arrested include dreaded criminal Kanhaiya Singh who is the shooter of gangster Akhilesh Singh and three members of rival gang.

Revealing about the breakthrough, senior SP, M Tamil Vanan said that Kanhaiya Singh and his associates had launched an armed attack on a house located near Wireless ground in Bagbera thana area on Thursday night.

"Kanhaiya Singh who was recently released on bail from Ghaghidih Central Jail wanted to buy a house near the Wireless ground from a woman by showing muscle power. After the attempt to buy the house by adopting coercive manner failed, the house owner, Shila Devi, had approached a local goon, Vijay Singh alias Sonu to protect her house from Kanhaiya who had threatened her with dire consequences, " said Vanan while talking to newsmen at a press conference on Saturday.

The senior SP said that as Kanhaiya Singh was expected to turn up with his associates anytime, Sonu was also prepared with his associates to meet any eventuality.

"As was being anticipated, Kanhaiya came with his men in an SUV late in the Thursday night and started indiscriminate firing on the house of Shila Devi. In retaliation, Sonu also resorted to indiscriminate firing on the attackers. But as several local residents came to Sonu's rescue and tried to surround the attackers, the latter fled the scene leaving the SUV. A police party from the Bagbera thana also rushed to the scene, but by the time the Kanhaiya Singh and associates had disappeared from the spot, " the senior SP pointed out.

Vanan said soon after the shootout, the police had started an investigation into the incident and tried to nab those who had taken the law into their hand.

"As shots were fired from both the sides, reflecting lawlessness, we took a stand to nab those involved in the firing and ultimately succeeded in arresting eight persons from both the sides. We also succeeded in siezing three pistols used in the shootout, " said Vanan, adding that search is on for the arrest of more people.