A gang of nine dacoits was arrested by the crime branch of Guwahati police and their West district counterparts during a joint operation from Basistha in the wee hours on Tuesday.

Police sources said the armed men — Atabur Ali, Sahil Hussain, Lukman Hussain, Md Abdul Mujib, Md Anowar Islam, Md Aminul Islam, Md Ikrabul Ali, Md Guljar Hussain, and Hanif Ali — were arrested when they were preparing for a robbery in the West district. Among them, Lukman Hussain hails from Hojai and Ikrabul from Guwahati, while the rest belong to Nagaon. The police added that they have seized six daggers, three masks, nine mobiles and six monkey caps from their possession. They are being interrogated, a police statement said.

The accused have been sent to three-day police custody for further interrogation.