Guwahati, In one of the largest seizures of arms and ammunition in recent times, security forces led by the Indian Army during a 12-day-long search operation recovered a big cache of firearms of various calibers and explosives from Assam's Chirang district along the India-Bhutan borders, defence sources said on Monday.

In a separate development, the Army, Assam Rifles and the state security forces in joint operations apprehended three United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) and two National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) militants and recovered arms and ammunition from their possession.

Defence spokesman Lt. Col. P. Khongsai said that acting on intelligence inputs, a unit of the Red Horns Division of the Indian Army conducted a joint operation along with Assam Police, SSB and COBRA battalion in the forested area of Lal Patthar in Chirang district in northern Assam.

"The search for 12 days yielded recovery of a huge cache of firearms including grenades, explosives, RPG and mortar bombs. The operation has resulted in the second biggest unearthing of arms in the area in recent times. The recovery has been beneficial in ensuring peace in the region," Khongsai said.

The recovery also goes a long way in maintaining peace, keeping in mind the upcoming Bodo Territorial Council elections in the area.

Khongsai said that Assam Rifles troopers under the command of the Army in an operation apprehended three cadres of ULFA (I) near the Chasa village in Tirap District of Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday.

"It is suspected that the ULFA (I) cadres were on the lookout to reach areas of eastern Assam for carrying out subversive activities. The troops recovered two foreign made point 32mm Pistols, three magazines, 39 live rounds of ammunition and three pairs of ULFA (I) formation signs during the operation," he added.

In the third development, Army soldiers in a joint operation with Assam Police apprehended two cadres of NSCN (IM) near Ledo in Tinsukia District of eastern Assam on Sunday. A foreign made 9-mm pistol, one point 22 pistol, 10 live rounds of ammunition and Rs 10,000 in cash were recovered from the NSCN (IM) insurgents.