Three arrested in Mumbai as police seize arms cache

MUMBAI (AFP) - Indian police have arrested three men and seized a cache of weapons and explosives destined for the insurgency-hit region of Kashmir, Mumbai's police chief said.

The men were arrested and 10 assault rifles, 30 kilograms (66 pounds) of explosives and ammunition were seized at Aurangabad in the western state of Maharashtra, said police commissioner A.N. Roy.

"At this stage we're not linking them to a particular (militant) organisation," said Roy on Wednesday. He said police had received a tip-off and had been working for some time on the operation.

"According to the indications we have received from these three arrested people, it (the cache) was supposed to be taken to Kashmir."

India and Pakistan each hold part of Kashmir but claim it in full.

At least 40,000 people have died in a 16-year-old insurgency against New Delhi's rule in the Indian zone, by official count. Separatists say the death toll is at least double that.

Violence has continued in Indian Kashmir despite a slow-moving peace process between India and Pakistan, which have fought two of their three wars over the scenic region.