Midnapore, West Bengal:
Security forces engaged Maoists in an encounter in the Shalboni area in Midnapore district, West Bengal on Thursday amid suspicion that top Maoist leader Kishenji could be hiding in the vicinity.
"Personnel of the joint forces are engaged in an encounter with Maoists at Lakshmanpur since morning. The kind of fire-power used by Maoists indicate that some of their top leaders could be in the vicinity," West Bengal DGP Bhupinder Singh told reporters.
Asked specifically whether Kishenji could be present in the area, Singh replied, "may be".
He said one jawan was injured in the gunbattle.
Police says that Maoists are using modern arms and fighting in a planned manner.
It is possible that a top Maoist leader could be on the spot, hence the modern arms and planned fight. (With PTI inputs)