Imphal, August 9 (IANS): The security forces, in separate joint operations in Manipur, arrested seven militants belonging to different banned insurgent outfits and recovered arms, ammunition and other incriminating materials during the past 24 hours, officials said on Sunday. The arrested militants belong to the proscribed Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and its political wing, the Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) and Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL). The official said the arrested militants were allegedly involved in various unlawful activities, including kidnapping and the forcible collection of "subscriptions", and recruitment of youths in the banned outfits. In three separate joint operations in Imphal East and Imphal West districts, the security forces also recovered a cache of arms and ammunition. The security forces have also been providing armed escorts to trucks and other vehicles carrying essential commodities along the strategically important Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37).