Bengaluru: The police have exposed yet another instance of an inmate of the Bengaluru Central Prison issuing orders to a gang that specialises in breaking and entering homes.

The police realised that the inmate was operating remotely when they arrested four people, including a 24-year-old woman, who attacked and robbed a home-alone woman at Shakti Ganapthi Nagar here on Wednesday.

Deputy Commissioner of Police M.N. Anucheth said the accused, Hemavathy, Bharath, 20, Vinay Kumar, 23, and Ravi Kiran, 22, were associates of Praveen Hitachi, an under-trial lodged in the prison.

According to the police, Hemavathy approached the victim, Kavitha, under the pretext of seeking a job and later gained entry into the house stating that she was hungry. While Kavitha was in the kitchen, Hemavathy, after ensuring that no one else was at home, informed her associates and let them inside. The accused later overpowered Kavitha, gagged her, trussed her up, and robbed her of a gold chain and a pair of bangles before fleeing.

Basaveshwaranagar police inspector G. Somashekhar tracked down the accused based on CCTV footage and call record details from mobile towers in the area. A fifth member of the gang, also a woman, is on the run.