A top naxalite leader, Madhu, was killed, along with three others, in a fierce encounter with police in Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh on Friday.
Madhu, alias Sarayya, was the secretary of Karimnagar (East Division) of Communist Party of India (Maoist).
The exchange of fire took place near Oorattam village in the extremist-affected Tadvai Mandal when Maoists were holding a strategy meeting, District Superintendent of Police M S Ravindra told reporters.
Acting on specific information that Maoists were engaged in a crucial meeting, a special police party raided the hideout and asked the extremists to surrender.
On seeing the police, the ultras opened fire and in the exchange of fire that followed, four Naxalites, including three women, died while six others managed to escape, the SP said.
Earlier, the police sources had put the death toll at five.
The police recovered an AK-47 gun, three rifles, some ammunition and kitbags from the spot.
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