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Top Maoist leader Koteswar Rao alias Kishenji was killed in a gunfight in Kushboni forest in the Jungle Mahal area of West Bengal, according to media reports.
On Wednesday, reports suggested that he and a close woman aide had in fact escaped from the area.
A top officer had told PTI on condition of anonymity, "We had strong information that Kishenji and Suchitra, the wife of a slain state committee member, were hiding in the jungles of Nalbani, Lalbani and Khusbani in Jhargram area of West Midnapore district."
The joint forces were alerted by the arrest of five Maoist 'village defence squad' members, who comprised the outermost ring of four rings usually assigned to protect a top leader such as Kishenji
According to the reports, the gunfight is still going on Jhargram. The police are looking for Kishenji's aide Suchitra Mahato.
Image: A file photo of Maoist leader Kishenji speaking to the media | Photograph: Reuters