In West Bengal, hardcore Maoist leader Kishenji is suspected to have been killed in an encounter with joint forces at the Burishole forests in West Midnapore district this afternoon. The Inspector General of Police of Western Range Mr. Gangeshwar Singh told AIR that efforts are on to identify the top Maoist leader. Police recovered one AK 47 rifle from the custody of the victim. AIR Kolkata correspondent reports that the West Bengal and Jharkhand police jointly launched an operation in the jungle area of Kushbani, Bagharsole at Binpur following tip off on the presence of Kishenji and his associate another hardcore Maoist leader Suchitra Mahoto in the area.In Andhra Pradesh, a high alert has been sounded in the state especially on the interstate borders following reports of death of Maoist leader M Koteswar Rao alias Kishanji in West Bengal. AIR correspondent reports, security has been beefed up in the Maoist affected areas in the state. Additional forces of Greyhounds, the Special Force to tackle Maoist issues have been put on alert in the border districts with Odisha and Chhattisgarh.