Rios, whose real name was José Juvenal Velandia, was killed in the department of Caldaz, 400 kilometers (250 miles) west of the capital Bogotá.According to Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos, “Rojas” gave himself in to the military, handing over the hand, the gun and the computer of Ríos. The hand proved to be in deed the hand of the rebel leader. The rest of his body has yet not been found.
Ríos had been reportedly living in Venezuela, the government said in January.He was believed to have been a go-between with Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, who this year received six hostages released by the FARC.Venezuelan media reported that Chávez had met Ríos and other FARC leaders on November 2 last year to arrange the hostage release.