The anti-terrorism squad of Uttar Pradesh police arrested a youth leader of the BJP from Bagda in North 24-Parganas on Monday in connection with a suspected terror link.

The police team from Lucknow raided the house of Bikram Roy, general secretary of Bagda 2 mandal committee of the Yuva Morcha, at Asaru-Gangulia village during the early hours of Monday and arrested him.

A team of Bagda police accompanied the anti-terrorism squad, which, however, refused to disclose the charges against Roy.

"His name surfaced in connection with an investigation of a terror link. We need to interrogate him for further details," an officer said on condition of anonymity.

Roy, 32, is a toto operator.

BJP's Bongaon organisational district president Debdas Mondal said: "The reason behind the arrest is not clear to me. I came to know that Bikram developed an acquaintance with a person who used to travel on his toto. On several occasions, he made calls with Bikram's mobile phone number. That person might have a terror link and police most probably arrested Bikram for that reason."

"If he has any terror link, the law must take its own course."

A Trinamool Congress leader said: "The arrest once again proves the BJP is an anti-national force. This is not the first instance of a BJP leader's role in terror cases.