Guwahati, April 3 (IANS): The leader of a notorious gang which stole cars from across the country and was also wanted in New Delhi and Mumbai was arrested here early on Friday, police said.

The Guwahati police swooped on Anil Chauhan from Azara area along with an accomplice, Mamud Choudhury, Police Commissioner Mukesh Agarwala told the media.

"Chauhan is a veteran in the field. His network was spread across the country," the officer said.

"We have confirmed with the police in Mumbai, New Delhi and Meghalaya and found that they were also on the lookout for Chauhan."

The police recovered two pistols, five rounds of ammunition and a vehicle from their possession.

"Chauhan is probably one of the most important ring leaders of auto theft in the country. We are interrogating him," he said.

The commissioner added that the police had started a new system of "night domination".

"We have seen that anti-socials take advantage of the night when the vigil gets slowed down due to various factors like manpower crisis," he said, adding the new system had led to "tremendous success".

In the last three months, the police had arrested 120 criminals. "The crime graph is declining in the city and the police performance has also improved to a great extent."