Rautahat, July 21 -- Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said the government was making diplomatic efforts to secure the release of two brothers from Sarlahi who have been in an Indian jail for the past 20 days after being arrested while returning home with fertiliser bought from across the border.

The minister said communication was underway through Nepal's embassy in New Delhi after Kantipur reported on Tuesday about the detention of 55-year-old Suresh Prasad Singh and his 60-year-old brother Nagendra Prasad Singh of Balara in Sarlahi-5.

Khanal said the embassy was coordinating with Indian authorities to secure their release on bail and that the two men were expected to walk free on Tuesday. "I have been in regular contact with the embassy...