Police in Bhairahawa have arrested three persons, including an Indian national, for their alleged involvement in hundi operations, an informal and illegal remittance system for sending money across borders, and seized more than Rs2.5 million in cash from them.

According to the District Police Office, Rupandehi, the arrested are Dinesh Baniya, 38, of ward 7 of Sammarimai Rural Municipality in Rupandehi; Masiuddin Fakir, 46, of ward 1 of Suddhodhan Rural Municipality in Kapilvastu; and Krishna Agrahari, 50, of Nautanwa, India.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Suraj Karki, the office’s spokesperson, said the suspects were arrested from two separate locations in Bhairahawa based on a tip-off. Baniya was arrested from Bank Road with Rs1.35 million in cash, while Fakir and Agrahari were detained from ward 12 of Siddharthanagar.

Fakir was found with Rs386,200 and a mobile phone, and Agrahari had Rs839,450 and a phone.

Karki said the suspects are being investigated under hundi-related offences with extended remand from the Rupandehi District Court.