KATHMANDU, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Nepali police have arrested an Indian national in connection with mysterious disappearance of 11 kids from Nepal Sewashram Association in Birgunj in central Nepal.

    According to Tuesday's eKantipur.com report, the arrested Indian national has been identified as Shanti Kumar Das, 50. Das is a permanent resident of Indian state of West Bengal and was running the orphanage.

    The police held Das from the orphanage at Ashokbatika in Birjugunj, some 90 km south of Kathmandu, Monday evening.

    He was arrested after 11 orphans disappeared "mysteriously" from the orphanage.

    "As per the preliminary investigation, we have come to know that Das used to physically torture and assault the orphans," the police said.

    Das has claimed that he has handed over the orphans to their respective parents. Das added that he has been wrongly convicted and that the allegations charged against him are not true.

    The police, however, said that the "disappeared" orphans are not in contact with their parents.