KOLKATA: The Intelligence Bureau (IB) sources confirmed on Friday that top Maoist leader, Kishenji died in gun battle and not in a fake encounter.
Director General of the CRPF K Vijay Kumar submitted a report on Kishenji’s death to the Home Secretary on November 29. Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, who stated on November 30 that he had ‘no doubts’ that Kishenji was killed in gun battle, is also said to have drawn his conclusions from the DG CRPF’s report and personal briefing.
The West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department (CID), too, is fast moving on the case and expects to submit its report in the next 15 days. The CID commenced its probe on November 26, keeping in line with the guidelines of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
Dreaded Maoist Kishenji, alias, Koteshwara Rao was gunned down at the Burishol forests in Jamboni, near Jhargram, in West Midnapore on November 24. Soon after, human rights groups such as the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) started demanding probe into the killing, crying foul play.
“A senior politburo member of the CPI (Maoist) was killed in an encounter with security forces that commenced on November 23 and concluded on November 24. Preliminary reports indicate that he was killed in the gun battle... We have no doubts about the encounter. He was killed in an encounter,” said Chidambaram in Delhi on Wednesday.
The West Bengal CID sources told this newspaper that they were satisfied with the progress of their investigation. “We are working quickly and have stationed some of our officials in Jangalmahal. They are visiting other areas, too, where the Maoists have been killed. We hope to submit our report in 15 days. We are now speaking to the people, who have alleged foul play,” said a senior CID officer.
The CID officials and rights activists from APDR visited Jangalmahal on Thursday to investigate another Maoist killing. Meanwhile, joint forces are hunting for one of Kishenji’s close associates.