According to reliable police sources, informers sent across the State to trace the dreaded criminal saw Raju Rohida, but he escaped before they could alert the area police.

His appearance in the Ahmedabad rural area has confirmed the local police's suspicion that Rohida was in the state and raised their hopes of tracking him down soon.

Though Commissioner of Police J. Mahapatra refused to comment on Rohida's being seen about 100 kms from Vadodara, he said he was convinced that the criminal was in the state and hoped that he would be arrested.

Top police sources said that Rohida appeared to have become a psychopathic case and might strike again, but he would do everything to avoid police arrest after allegedly gunning down Kamlesh Barot in Bharuch.

As a consequence, security at all entry points in the city has been strengthened and barricades erected to ensure that the criminal does not enter the city and is caught if he makes the attempt.

Meanwhile, Sotta's request for a firearm licence has been rejected by the local police as several criminal cases are registered against him in the Panigate and Wadi police stations.

Sotta, when contacted, said he had personally called on the Police Commissioner in this connection on Wednesday but the latter turned down his request outright. Sotta said that the cases registered against him were politically motivated and there was no truth in the allegations whatsoever.

Mahapatra confirmed that Sotta had met him and said that security rules did not allow issuing of licences to persons having criminal records because there was always a chance of the weapon being misused.