TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee says Mamata Banerjee-led govt 'killed' Kishenji

All India Trinamool Youth Congress President and West Bengal Chief Minister's nephew Abhishek Banerjee has sparked off a controversy after he claimed that the Mamata Banerjee government had "killed" dreaded Maoist leader Kishenji in 2011.

"By killing Kishenji, the Mamata Banerjee government has proven that in the future people will have the last world in Junglemahal," Banerjee told a public meeting at Belpahari in West Midnapore district yesterday.

Belpahari is located in the heart of Junglemahal region, once a Maoist stronghold.

Banerjee, also an MP, said the days of Maoist leaders like Kishenji and others were "over" and the ruling TMC government has ensured that people speak the final word in the Junglemahal area.

"Earlier people could not venture out of their homes due to Red terror. Everyday reports of murders used to appear in the newspapers. Today, there is peace. In the last four years there has been no influx of Maoists and development has taken centre stage since then," said Banerjee.

The remarks ran counter to the chief minister's earlier claim that Kishenji had not been killed "in a pre-planned way".