The Andhra Pradesh police on Monday arrested two People's War naxalites who had tried to kill former chief minister N Janardhan Reddy.

They have been identified as Kara Dibbaiah (21) and Poli Mariadas (26), members of the PW grama rakshak dalam [village protection squad] of Gamalapadu village in Guntur district.

During his tenure as chief minister, Reddy had banned the PW on May 21, 1992. He is currently a Congress member of Parliament from Narasaraopet constituency in Guntur district.

Guntur Superintendent of Police Ravi Shankar Ayyanar said the duo had planted landmines on the approach road to Gamalapadu village, where the former CM was to lay the foundation stone for an overhead water tank on February 15 this year.

They had also hung claymore mines on the trees along the route.

However, Reddy cancelled his visit at the last moment.

The naxalites, who were held near Narketpally highway on Guntur-Nalgonda border, said a feud between a naxalite, Poorna, who is now a dalam [armed squad] member, and village sarpanch Janaiah had led to the plot to kill the former CM.

The SP said the accused were also involved in blasting of two buses, a panchayat office and a culvert.