A Trinamool Congress leader from Howrah staged a dramatic escape attempt in Madhubani, Bihar, climbing a coconut tree and jumping into a pond to evade police. Kailash Misra, a close associate of Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee and a former councillor of Howrah Municipal Corporation, was arrested on Saturday after a joint operation by Howrah City Police and Bihar Police.
Background of the Accused
Kailash Misra, a resident of Agrasen Street in Liluah, was the Trinamool candidate for the Bally Assembly constituency in Howrah for the 2026 elections. According to sources from the detective department of Howrah City Police and Howrah Rural Police, he fled immediately after the election results were declared earlier this year. He first took shelter at the residence of a Trinamool leader in Kolkata before moving to his ancestral home in Madhubani, Bihar.
Multiple Charges Against Misra
A senior officer of Howrah City Police stated that Misra faces several serious charges, including extortion, assault and eviction of poor residents, running a building materials syndicate, hurling bombs, physically assaulting police personnel, and filling up ponds for development purposes. These offenses have been under investigation for some time.
The Dramatic Arrest
On Saturday afternoon, a police team from Howrah City Police, along with Bihar Police, raided Misra's house in Madhubani. Upon seeing the police, Misra climbed a coconut tree located next to a pond. When officers pointed their weapons and ordered him to descend, he jumped into the pond. The police also jumped into the water and successfully apprehended him.
Political Connections and Rise to Power
According to local sources, Misra initially lived in north Kolkata and was active in politics under former Trinamool leader Sonali Guha. After causing trouble in Kolkata, he moved to Liluah with the help of then Trinamool district president Arup Roy. During the Trinamool era, he became known as a local strongman.
Howrah District Trinamool chairman, MLA, and former minister Arup Roy commented on Misra's influence, saying, “Kailash did not listen to me; instead, he used to order me around. He is a very close follower of Abhishek Banerjee himself. Abhishek used to keep watch on everyone in the Howrah party through him. The law will now do whatever it has to.”
The arrest marks a significant development in the ongoing crackdown on criminal elements with political connections in West Bengal. Further investigations are underway to uncover the full extent of Misra's activities and his network.
