Bengaluru, Jul 15 (IANS): In a major operation against vehicle robbery in Bengaluru, 17 notorious robbers were arrested and 20 cars and 58 bikes recovered from them, police said on Wednesday.

Three country-made pistols and 24 live cartridges were also seized from them, the Bengaluru East police said.

Noting 'teamwork makes the dream work', Bengaluru Police Commissioner, Kamal Pant said that this is one of the biggest seizure of stolen vehicles under a single jurisdiction.

"This was a joint operation under Deputy Commissioner of Police, East, and in his jurisdiction, different police station teams have arrested 17 persons wanted in several cases. Three country-made pistols, 24 live cartridges, 20 cars, and 58 two-wheelers valued around Rs 2.25 crore were seized," he said.

According to the police, those country-made pistols and 24 live cartridges were recovered from three criminals - Faizulla, Syed Siraj Ahmed and Mohammed Ali aka Shera of Banaswadi police limits.

The police added that the three had procured these weapons from Kopargaon in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district.

"These three are suspected to have underworld links with Maharashtra and their antecedents are being probed in detail in this case," a police officer said.