The police have arrested two other key figures behind the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) - lawyer P Waythamoorthy and V Ganapathy Rao.

Waythamoorthy, who is Hindraf chairperson, informed Malaysiakini of his arrest via SMS (short messaging service).

According to the lawyer, he was arrested at the Shah Alam toll plaza at about 3pm and was taken to the Selangor police headquarters in Shah Alam.

Ganapathy was arrested around the same time at the police headquarters where he had gone to see Hindraf's legal adviser and Waythamoorthy's brother, Uthayakumar.

Uthayakumar was picked up at his office in Kuala Lumpur under the Sedition Act this morning.

The three are expected to be taken to the Klang Sessions Court where they will be charged with sedition.

The arrests come ahead of a Hindraf-organised mass rally slated for this weekend outside the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur.

[Full report to follow]