The Punjab police on Tuesday arrested two brothers of Maninder Pal Singh Kohli, prime suspect in the rape and murder of British teenager Hannah Foster, for allegedly sheltering him when he was on the run from the law.

Amrit Pal Singh Kohli and Ishtpreet Singh Kohli were arrested from Mohali, Mohali police chief Rajesh Aggarwal said.

Maninder was arrested from Panighata on the Indo-Nepal border on July 15 and remanded to judicial custody till July 29.

He alleged committed the crime in Southampton, Britain, on March 14, 2003 and fled to first Chandigarh and then Kalimpong, West Bengal.

The arrest followed the public appeal of the victim's parents to provide leads on Maninder's whereabouts and announcement of a Rs 45 lakh award. His photographs were flashed on television, which alerted his neighbours in Kalimpong, leading to the arrest.