Deputy Chief of Mission at the embassy Shankhar Bairagi confirmed that no Nepalis have been arrested.

He said, “We have contacted the police and the government here, and no record of arrest (of Nepalis) was found.”

“I talked to them, who were reported to be arrested, and they sounded infuriated by the reports,” he added.

Bairagi informed that the allegedly arrested Nepalis said that Mathbar Singh, who told the false report, had stayed with them a couple of years ago, but had mental problems and had returned to Nepal.

According to a news story telecasted by the local Kantipur Television on Thursday, the Australian government arrested four Nepalis--- Lok Man Rai of Tehrathum, Abula Limbu and Huma Devi Sawa of Taplejung and Bhim Raj Subba of Dhankuta--- on charge of terrorism.

When contacted, an official at the Kantipur Television said that the news could be false since the contact number that Mathbar Singh left cannot be reached.