In West Bengal, a top ranking Maoist leader Sasadhar Mahato was killed in an encounter with the joint forces near Jamboni forest in West Midnapur district last night. According to police sources, an AK-47 rifle was recovered from the custody of the deceased. One person was arrested from the area. Acting on a tip off the joint forces surrounded an area in Kapgari forest under Jamboni police station and started the combing operations. Raids of the joint force continued in the area till late last night. Sasadhar Mahato was wanted in many cases and was one of the main accused in the Gyaneshwari Express sabotage case in which 147 passengers were killed.