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Indian minister dies inlandmine blast

HYDERABAD (India): A government minister in India's southern state of Andhra Pradesh was killed when a landmine believed to have been planted by guerrillas blew up his car, police said on Wednesday.

A. Madhava Reddy, minister for local governance, was killed late on Tuesday near Ghatkesar when he was returning to the state capital Hyderabad from Bhongir.

Police said the landmine was believed to have been planted by guerrillas of the outlawed People's War Group.

Ghatkesar is about 40 km (25 miles) from Hyderabad.

The driver and the minister's personal security officer were also killed in the blast.

The People's War Group attacks landlords and law enforcement authorities across large tracts of forest in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Maharashtra.

Its members are called Naxalites after the eastern Indian town of Naxalbari, where their movement originated.-Reuters