Tamil Nadu Special Task Force personnel arrested three suspected accomplices of forest brigand Veerappan during combing operations in Bannari forest area of Erode district, police sources said on Monday.

The trio was moving around in Pudubeerkadavu area when the STF detected them. Some gelatine sticks, detonators and explosive materials were found in their possession, they said.

Suspected to be terrorists belonging to the Ilavarasan group, the accused reportedly helped Veerappan during the abduction episode of the slain former minister of Karnataka, H Nagappa, they added.