And although the police have still not established a definite link between three identical crimes in Ahmedabad, Surat and Ankleshwar in the past few days, they are optimistic that the interrogation of the four arrested will help crack the other cases as well.

``The four arrested are definitely hardcore criminals, and moreover, there is a striking similarity between a few murders and loots in different cities in the past few days. The police have now decided to co-ordinate to check such instances,'' District Superintendent of Police V M Pargi said.

According to information available with the police, besides the cases where the taxi driver was murdered and thrown near Kosamba on Wednesday, the other cases that could have a common thread running between them are the murder of Ashok Patil, a taxi driver from the city a fortnight ago, a similar case in Ahmedabad about 20 days back and two other cases within the railway police limits a month ago.

``Establishing a link is necessary and so police from various districts have to share information and work together. Thus the joint effort,'' said the DSP. He added that Wednesday's crime could not be the handiwork of novices and initial interrogation has substantiated this. ``There are many things that individual policemen know. These have to be put into place to get the wider picture,'' he said.

In fact, Vadodara Range IG D D Tuteja who is also in charge of the Surat Range, had come over to the city over the weekend and guided officials on how to proceed with the case.

Although the police have not made an official statement, sources said that the culprits could constitute a well organised gang from Punjab. Vicky Survinder Sharma, Manjit Ramsingh alias Satish Gamiyar, Darbarsingh Harisingh Jat and Raju alias Atmasingh Dharamsingh Sardar -- all Punjabi youth between 20 and 25 years of age -- who were arrested are being interrogated by the police. Two others, identified as Anwar and Raju are still absconding.

The six reportedly hired a car and killed its driver Suresh, throwing his body near Kosamba before stopping to bathe naked at a canal near Mota village, Bardoli. A woman objected to this, after which they were apprehended. It was only later that they confessed to Suresh's murder. The six were going to Maharashtra, they have confessed so far.