Three Sikh bodies have formed a base in the region in a bid to launch terror attacks in Punjab, police said on Friday.

Three terrorists belonging to them were recently arrested. During interrogation, they said about 40 terrorists have formed three outfits -- Khalistan Zindabad Force, Panj Pardhani Group and Iknoor Khalsa Fauj -- with their base in Barnala.

Police nabbed Malikeet Singh, Surjeet Singh and Harbans Singh on the Jammu-Akhnoor-Poonch highway and recovered one AK rifle, five pistols and some ammunition.

Police sources told PTI that Panj Pardhani Group was formed after Malkeet Singh was released from a Patiala jail in January after 10 months. Some group members were earlier affiliated to Khalsa Dal.

They were reportedly in touch with some terrorists in Pakistan. Sources said the chief of the so-called Khalistan Zindabad Force, Ranjeet Singh Neeta, who has links with Pakistan intelligence agency ISI, agreed to send them weapons.

Neeta hails from Jammu and has been operating from Pakistan for over a decade.