The suspects, Bhaskar (28) from Haleangadi, and Anand Shetty from Yekkur in Mangalore taluk, were arrested near Binny Mill on Tank Road. Two other suspects Yada Vasanth and Ganesh Bangera managed to escape. Bhaskar is said to be a notorious rowdy in Surathkal near Mangalore and was allegedly involved in the murders of ‘Liveband’ Govardhan at Kankanady in Mangalore and Vamanjoor Rohy in Surathkal.

Cases were registered against him for possessing illegal arms. The four men are said to be close associates of Ravi Poojary and Nikhil Shetty. At the behest of Shetty, they were reportedly planning to extort rich businessmen. They had conspired to murder an industrialist in the City, the police said.