Two Kerala-based jewellers were attacked and robbed of five kg of jewels worth about Rs one crore by a four member gang in the city, police said today.

Police said the two were walking towards their hotel on arrival from Trichur yesterday when they were intercepted by the autorickshaw-borne gang, who threw chilly powder on their faces.

The duo resisted, but were attacked and relieved of the bags containing the jewellery after which the gang escaped in a waiting car, they said.

Police said they had obtained some clues and suspect that the gang might have been monitoring the movement of the jewellers, one of whom had been visiting this city regularly for the last five years to sell jewellery to local jewellers.

A sniffer dog was pressed into service. Forensic experts also examined the autorickshaw used by the gang, they said, adding a police team had also been sent to Trichur.

Commissioner of Police Sanjay Mathur, who is monitoring the case, expressed confidence that the gang would soon be arrested.