Ranchi, Oct 16 Two Maoist rebels involved in the abduction and brutal killing of police inspector Induwar Francis have been arrested, police said Friday

According to police, the two rebels - Vikesh Das and Sudhakar - were arrested Thursday from Barigada village on the outskirts of Ranchi. The two had come to the village to celebrate Diwali.

"The arrested Maoists have admitted that a group of six guerrillas had abducted Induwar Francis. They were changing their location regularly due to the police operation against them. The group was led by Shayma Pahan alias Montu, the younger brother of top Maoist rebel Kundan Pahan," Ranchi's Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Praveen Kumar told reporters.

According to police sources, Francis, abducted on Sep 30, was brought on Oct 4 night to Raisa Ghati, situated on the Ranchi-Jamshedpur national highway and beheaded by the rebels. His body was found the next day.

Police said the two arrested Maoists have passed valuable information regarding Kundan Pahan, who has emerged as a terror in the Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Khuti districts. (IANS)