Two of a three-member robber gang were arrested by the Harbour Police here on Thursday.
The arrested were identified as V. Nookaraju and M. Gangadhar. The third member, A. Potharaju, is still at large.
“We have launched a manhunt to nab him,” said DCP (Crime) T. Ravi Kumar Murthy.
The DCP said that the three accused hatched a plan on February 18 to commit robbery to fund their vices.
As per the plan, the accused boarded an auto-rickshaw at around 10.30 p.m. near Sree Kanya theatre junction and decided to rob the driver and flee with the vehicle.
They first asked the driver, A. Bangaraju, to take them to the Fishing Harbour and en route they picked up some liquor and food near Leelamahal.
After reaching Fishing Harbour, they parked at a secluded spot and consumed liquor and food, and then asked the driver to take them to Chilakapeta via the port route.
On reaching a lonely spot, they asked the driver to stop, mercilessly beat him, and then snatched his two silver rings and Rs.1,500 in cash.
From Chilakapeta they proceeded to Sheelanagar. On reaching a secluded spot, they again beat up the driver and dumped him on the roadside in a semi-conscious state and fled with the vehicle to Anakapalle, said Mr. Ravi Kumar Murthy.
The accused were caught while trying to sell the vehicle.
The police recovered the auto-rickshaw and the mobile phone of the driver from the accused.