Maoists' silence deepens mystery over Kishenji

The condition of top Maoist leader Koteswar Rao alias Kishenji continued to be wrapped in a shroud of mystery with the CPI (Maoist) maintaining silence and West Bengal and Orissa governments having no information about the dreaded rebel leader.

Despite raids at many places including hospitals, nursing homes and ayurvedic treatment centres, Orissa police are clueless about Kishenji, said a senior police officer associated with the anti-Maoist operation in the state.

Kishenji, who used to make media statements regularly, is not heard for a considerable period and this strengthens speculations that he might have been either injured or dead or in hibernation, the officer said.

A section of police believe that Kishenji had sustained injuries during the gun battle with security force at Hatilote forest in West Bengal last week.

Experts who study Maoists' behaviour believe that Kishenji was not dead.

"This is because, Maoists do not hide news of death as they normally declare someone close to them as martyr when he dies in encounters," said a former DGP citing how they recently highlighted the disappearance of Azad, another top ranking leader.