Two history sheeters, allegedly involved in issuing threats to former Indian skipper Mohd Azharuddin, have been arrested by Maharashtra police, police sources said in Hyderabad.

Rafiq Bin Shimlan and Ghouse were reportedly picked up from the city following the confession of an underworld conduit, arrested earlier, to Aurangabad police about the plans to kill Azharuddin, police sources said on Monday.

The duo have been taken to Maharashtra, they said.

Earlier, police in Hyderabad had been frantically trying since the past 3 days to locate the duo, whose whereabouts were not known even to their family members.

Azharuddin on our hitlist: Subhas Thakur gang

Ghouse's relative had filed a first information report at a local police station terming him missing since Saturday while Shimlan's daughter complained to police on Sunday that he was missing from home since last 5 days.

City police commissioner V Dinesh Reddy had on Sunday told reporters, "We believe his (Azaruddin's) life is still under threat and we will continue to provide him security."

Last week, 4 personal security officers were drafted by the police to guard Azhar in a batch of 2 officers per shift following threatening calls which the former Indian skipper had allegedly received.

According to a police source, a tight vigil was being maintained and apart from the 2 arrests, some more "suspected elements" had been picked up for interrogation in the old city area.

When asked about the presence of a 4-member underworld gang in the city to chalk out the 'financial settlement' with Azharuddin, official sources denied any such information.