Mandya: Mandya Rural Police have arrested seven Kerala-based dacoits near Mandya on Sunday night.

Those arrested are 49-year-old Shashi alias Bose of Adpat village, 32-year-old Sijo alias Sijo Joy of Kurichchar village, 29-year-old P.M. Jatin of Ambalur village, 30-year-old P.M. Subbis of Pudukkadi village, all in Trissur district, 34-year-old V.S. Nikhil, 25-year-old Ajeeb of Payam village in Kannur district and 25-year-old Abdul Khadar of Mannanjeri village in Allepy district.

The Police have seized iron pipes, sticks, knife, rope, chilli powder packets and a car (KL-48-B-6041) from them.

Acting on a tip off that a few people were behaving suspiciously near Hanakere village on Mysuru-Bengaluru Highway, the Mandya Rural Police on May 22 night raided the spot, during which the dacoits tried to flee but the Police chased them and caught all of them.

The accused, who were produced before a Magistrate, have been  taken to custody for further enquiry. It is learnt that these dacoits used to waylay Kerala registration vehicles on Mysuru-Bengaluru Highway and rob the occupants of their cash, gold jewellery and other valuables and were involved in many dacoity cases.