VISHAKHAPATNAM/NEW DELHI: Senior Maoist leader Gajarla Ravi alias Uday, member of CPI(Maoist) central committee (CC), was killed by Andhra Pradesh police on Wednesday in an encounter in Alluri Sitarama Raju district of the state.

With his neutralisation, the total strength of the CC has shrunk to 13, including the four remaining politburo members, report Siva G & Bharti Jain.Two other senior Naxal leaders - state zonal committee member Ravi Venka Chaitanya alias Aruna and area committee member Anju - were also eliminated. Aruna is wife of another slain CC member Ramachandra Reddy Pratap Reddy alias Chalapathi, who was killed by the anti-Naxal forces in Chhattisgarh in Jan. Gajarla Ravi is the fifth CC member to be neutralised this year. Ravi was killed in an encounter between Maredumilli and Rampachodavaram areas in ASR district. Ravi and Aruna carried rewards of Rs 25 lakh and Rs 20 lakh respectively, and were accused of several killings in AP and Odisha.