Ammonium Nitrate used in naxal bid on ex-CM: Police

Hyderabad, Sep 8 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh police today identified 'Ammonium Nitrate and Slurry' as the explosives used by the suspected CPI (Maoists) to trigger the landmine, targetting former Chief Minister N Janardhan Reddy and his minister wife at Vadaka village in Nellore district yesterday.

Forensic experts from the State and Central units found that the explosives were planted at the culvert on the Telugu Ganga canal near Vidya Nagar less than three hours' before the blast took place about 0615 hrs yesterday. The blast had killed three and injured five.

The wires would have been laid earlier but the explosives were planted just underneath the top soil of the culvert in the early hours yesterday. The helmet and food packet fortified the findings and also indicated that two suspected Maoists with motorcycles were involved in the operation.

Mr Reddy was en-route to Tirupati to receive an honorary doctorate from the Sri Venkateswara University. The former Chief Minister, who was responsible for the banning of the CPI (ML), the precursor of the CPI(Maoists) for the first time, had survived another assassination bid in February 2003.

The suspect who was picked up within hours of the blast was apparently 'unhelpful' in the investigation, indicating that he was not involved in it.

Meanwhile, Mr Reddy and his wife Rajyalaxmi, the state Child and Woman Welfare Minister, visited Tirumala to offer thanksgiving prayers at the hill shrine today.

State Home Minister K Jana Reddy, who flew in along with state Director General of Police M A Basith and Additional DGP (Intelligence) K Aravinda Rao to meet Mr Janardhan Reddy at Nellore yesterday, had assured them of a quick investigation into the case.

The high profile greyhound contingent have started combing the Nallamala range as initial indications suggested that the Maoists could have retreated into the forests across the Nellore-Kadapa border.

However, sources said the blast was apparently planned at least three months earlier, as it was clear from the wires laid at the culvert.

The top Maoist groups, including Shakamuri Appa Rao and Asanna, were apparently involved in the operations which looked to have the clearance of CPI Maoist General Secretary Muppala Laxman alias Ganapati.

UNI