Four Maoists, including a top rebel official, were killed in an encounter with the police in Warangal district of India's southern Andhra Pradesh yesterday. Rebel commander D.V.K. Swamy, alias Yadanna, was killed along with three other guerrillas in a fierce gunfight that lasted several hours, said police officer Batti Lal Meena. Swamy supervised operations in Warangal district, the rebels' biggest stronghold, and nearby areas. The gunfight occurred in the dense Venkatapuram forest in Warangal, about 210 km north of the Andhra Pradesh capital, Hyderabad. Police were searching for more rebels believed hiding in the same area, Meena said.Swamy had earlier eluded police in about 20 encounters, and the state government had announced a reward of 300,000 rupees ($6,700) to anyone who helped catch him. Among the three others killed, one was a woman. She was identified as Prameela, wife of North Telangana special zonal committee member Somanna. The police recovered some weapons, including an AK-47 rifle, from the scene of the encounter.