Friday, July 14 2006 11:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: Nepalese police have arrested two Pakistanis in connection with the seizure of 16 kg of RDX here five years ago and were investigating whether the duo had any link with the Mumbai train blasts, which claimed over 200 lives.

Aftar Moiddin Siddiqui and Gulam Hussain Cheema were arrested from a five-star hotel in the outskirts of Kathmandu last night, Superintendent of Police at the Kathmandu District Police Office, Dhak Bahadur Pun, told sources yesterday (July 13, 2006).

They were arrested in connection with the seizure of 16 kilograms of RDX way back in April 2001 from a Pakistani diplomat, who was staying at a house rented by Cheema here, the police official said.

However, police could not arrest Cheema at that time as he fled from the scene as soon as it raided the house. The diplomat also escaped due to immunity and later he was asked to leave Kathmandu.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of police arrested Siddiqui and Cheema from a room of the hotel and necessary investigation was being carried out in the matter, he said.

However, police said they had no information about the duo's possible link with the Mumbai blasts.

"So far we have no information on that, we have been investigating whether they have any link with the Mumbai blasts," the police official said when asked if there is any link.