Bengaluru, March 12 (IANS): A dozen of Madhya Pradesh Congress leaders, including two ministers were detained near the airport when they tried to meet the 19 party rebel legislators who refused to meet them, police said on Thursday.

"We had to detain the leaders, including two ministers Jitu Patwari and Lakhan Singh at Embassy Boulevard Club near the airport, as the rebel MLAs didn't wanted to meet them at the resort where they are staying or anywhere outside," a police official told IANS.

Though the dozen leaders flew into the city from Bhopal earlier in the day to meet the rebels and change their mind, but the police did not allow them to proceed to the resort (Prestige Golfshire), which is at Yelahanka in the city's northern outskirts and on way to the airport at Devanahalli.

"Incidentally, a rebel MLA - Manoj Chaudhary came to the club after he learnt that his father too flew in to the city. But the police did not allow them to meet because the rebels gave in writing to the police chief that they do not want to meet anyone," a party source told IANS on the condition of anonymity.

The visiting leaders were let off after a while.

In response to a letter the rebel MLAs wrote to the Karnataka director general of police (DGP) Praveen Sood on Monday seeking security for their safety, the Bengaluru Rural district police deployed additional personnel in around the resort since Tuesday.

"The rebels have told the resort management and the police on duty not to allow anyone inside who wants to meet or talk to them as they are unwilling to do so," the source quipped.

As directed by the DGP, movement of people, including guests are screened and vehicles entering the resort are checked to ensure the safety and security of the rebel lawmakers.