Kishenji's body to be sent to Andhra after post mortem

KOLKATA: The body of slain Maoist leader Kishenji would be sent to Andhra Pradesh in consultion with his family after the post mortem examination, the West Bengal government decided on Friday as search continued for woman leader Suchitra Mahato in Burisole jungle in West Midnapore district.

"The body is being sent," Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told reporters when asked if Kishenji's body would be sent back to his home state. Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh said that the post mortem would be done tomorrow.

To a question, he said that whatever is necessary would be done to send the body to Andhra Pradesh after talking to relatives. Ghosh said that there was no need of seeking the permission of the Andhra Pradesh government, "but procedural matters exist."

Asked where the post mortem would be held, Home Secretary G D Gautama said "details are being worked out." A forensic team would be present during the post mortem. If required a DNA test would also be made.

The body would be formally identified late tonight by his niece Deepa Rao at the Midnapore Sadar Hospital where it has been taken from the police morgue at Jhargram.

She was being accompanied by revolutionary poet Varvara Rao. Both arrived here from Hyderabad in the morning along with other Maoist sympathisers.