Nepalese police on Friday arrested two Maoist cadres, who allegedly beat up a Swiss tourist for not paying "donation" to the former rebels' outfit.

31-year-old tourist Steve Jeannereet was allegedly thrashed by the Maoists as he did not have money to pay as "donation" to their CPN-Maoist party, officials and witnesses said.

The incident took place on Thursday at Birethathi area near Pokhara, a tourist hub, while Jeannereet was returning from a trekking expedition.

The two arrested Maoists would be produced before the tourist for their identification, SP Ramesh Kumar Bhattarai said, adding that the local Maoist commander has apologised for the incident.

After the incident, the Swiss tourist, who received injuries in the Maoist attack, was taken to a hotel in Pokhara, where he was given medical treatment.

According to a staff of Adventure International Trekking, the Maoists demanded Rs 1,800 from the tourist for his 18 days of travel, but as he had no money he could not afford it.

Meanwhile, Nepal's paramilitary Armed Police Force (APF) has arrested 45 people affiliated to various armed groups operating in southern Nepal districts along with a number of unauthorised weapons they possessed.

The security personnel arrested 44 people from 11 districts of Terai and one person carrying arms from the Kathmandu valley, according to the officials.

They also recovered motorcycles, pistols, rifles, bullets and electric devices used for exploding bombs from the arrested persons.

The government has formed a special task force to control criminal activities in the border area.