Patna, Nov 21 (IANS): The Bihar police Thursday arrested three hardcore Maoists and recovered a huge quantity of explosives, including 5,000 bullets, 65 grenades and 12 pistols, in Gaya district, police said.

Acting on a tip off, a joint team of the district police and the Special Task Force (STF) raided Baratand village near Banka Bazaar in Gaya and arrested three Maoists and recovered a large quantity of explosives, Gaya Superintendent of Police Nishant Kumar Tiwari said.

According to police officials, besides bullets, grenades and pistols, they also recovered material used for making Improvised Explosive Devices (IED).

The state police, along with the STF and the central para military forces, has intensified combing operations against Maoists in Gaya.

Gaya, 100 km from here, is considered a Maoist stronghold.

Last week, a joint team of the state police and the Central Reserve Police Force had seized a large quantity of explosives from a Maoist hideout in a forest in state's Jamui district.

They seized about 100 kg ammonium nitrate contained in three sacks, nine LPG cylinders, two IEDs, and two packets of Powergel -- a range of explosive products used by the mining industry around the world.