Agnivesh demands judicial probe into Kishenji killing

Social worker Swami Agnivesh on Saturday demanded judicial probe into the killing of top Maoist leader Kishenji in a gun battle in West Bengal jungle.

"We demand judicial probe in killing of Kishenji... He was killed in encounter is claimed by the police, and on the other hand other people are terming it as fake encounter," said Agnivesh while talking to reporters in coal city Dhanbad.

"Azad, a Maoist leader involved in peace talks, was killed in Andhra Pradesh. The killing of Kishenji is a setback for peace dialogue. His killing is also a major setback for the Maoists. He appealed Maoists to shun violence," Agnivesh said.

Kishenji, a third ranking Maoist leader in India, was killed in gun battle with security forces on Thursday. Kishenji's associates have termed the gun battle as a "fake encounter".