The Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police on Sunday said that it has arrested a Kashmir-based militant from Canning in South 24 Parganas district, bordering Bangladesh.

According to the STF, Javed Munshi, a Pakistan-trained IED expert, was planning to cross over to Bangladesh under the direction of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) operatives.

This is the second arrest involving terrorists in West Bengal in recent weeks.

“Munshi is affiliated to the banned terrorist outfit Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen (TuM). He has a criminal history, including alleged involvement in the 2011 murder of Shauqat Shah, a leader of the Ahl-i-Hadith, and has served multiple jail terms on terrorism-related charges,” said a senior STF officer.

“During interrogation, Munshi confessed to multiple visits to Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan on fake Pakistani passports, as instructed by his handlers. He is also wanted by the Jammu & Kashmir Police,” the officer added.

Munshi was produced before a court in Alipore in Kolkata on Sunday. He was handed over to the J&K Police on transit remand for further investigation.

According to the STF, Munshi was staying at his relative’s house in Canning.

“Javed Munshi is the husband of my sister-in-law. He was arrested soon after he came to our house,” said a woman at Gulshan House from where Mushi was arrested.

“I don’t know what he does. The police also asked the same question. We informed that Javed is our relative,” she added.

Earlier this week on Thursday, the STF of Assam and West Bengal Police arrested two suspected militants — Abbas Sheikh and Minarul Sheikh — from Murshidabad’s Hariharpara area.

The West Bengal Police said that militant outfit, Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), was on recruitment drive in West Bengal.