After the arrest of a suspected operative of terror outfit Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen (TuM) from Canning in West Bengal, the West Bengal Special Task Force (STF) is investigating the possible reasons behind the suspect’s presence in the state.

According to STF sources, Javed Ahmed Munshi used to provide logistical support to terror outfits such as Hijbul e Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba.

Munshi visited Pakistan at least seven times since 1990 and had participated in a

six-month training programme in that country regarding how to make improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the sources said.

They added that Munshi was sent by his handlers to determine the possible riverine route for smuggling arms into India from Bangladesh.

The police are also investigating whether Munshi opened any training modules in Bengal.

Munshi has a history of involvement in terror-related activities, including his alleged role in the 2011 murder of Shaukat Shah, a leader of the Ahl-i-Hadith, and has served multiple jail terms on terrorism-related charges, the STF sources said.

During preliminary interrogation, Munshi admitted to having visited Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan multiple times using fake passports, acting on the instructions of his handlers, the sources claimed.

According to police sources, Munshi had arrived in the Canning area a few days ago.

On December 22, a court in Kolkata granted transit remand of Munshi till December 31 to the Jammu and Kashmir police.

He was arrested from Canning in a joint operation by the J&K Police and West Bengal STF.