Dismissing opposition allegations that it was a fake encounter, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday justified the police action which resulted in the death of four Maoists at Attapady in Palakkad district, saying the shootout was in self-defence.

No one will be killed just because they are Maoist and the government will examine whether there were any lapses in the matter, Vijayan told the state assembly.

Taking a serious view of the incident,the Kerala State Human Rights Commission issued notice to the state DGP, asking him to conduct a probe and submit a report within two weeks.

Voicing concern over the killing, CPI, a major partner in the ruling LDF, sought a magisterial inquiry.

Instead of killing them the maoists should have been captured alive to face justice, CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran said. Vijayan said in the assembly maoists from other states were trying to infiltrate Kerala and expand their activities in the western ghats.

"The maoists who got trained from other states are trying to infiltrate Kerala and disrupt the peaceful atmosphere here. The Thunderbolt (elite commando force) team were patrolling the area when the maoists fired at them and it resulted in this unfortunate incident," Vijayan told the Assembly.

He was replying to a notice for an adjournment motion moved by the opposition seeking an independent probe into the incident. Vijayan said "We are well aware that a government will not be able to destroy an idea through oppression.