Moscow: Russian intelligence services said on April 22 they had arrested two Russians of Pakistani origin who kidnapped nine Indian nationals and held them hostage for ransom, apparently for criminal purposes, in the North Western Russian city of Tula.

Intelligence officers freed the nine Indians and arrested the two men, who had already been accused of kidnapping in connection with a separate incident, a spokesman for the FSB intelligence services said.

The two men were the main organisers of the kidnapping group, the spokesman said, adding that they were also searching for a Moscow-based Pakistani national.

He refused to provide details into when the operation to free the kidnapped Indians took place, how long they were held or who had been asked to provide a ransom for their release.

The ring may have been planning to smuggle the kidnapped Indians abroad, Interfax reported, adding that the group is suspected of trafficking nationals from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan to Western Europe through Belarus, Ukraine and Russia.

The FSB is looking for several other people, believed to be based in Eastern Europe, who are suspected of links to the gang, it added.