Warangal, May 12: Home minister K. Jana Reddy on Saturday held talks with arrested Naxalite leader K. Rajanna, secretary of Jana Shakti, who is lodged in the Central prison.

The meeting between the home minister and the Naxalite leader was unexpected and took prison officials by surprise. Mr Reddy had an animated talk with Mr Rajanna for about 15 minutes on conditions at the jail and prison reforms.

The ailing Naxalite leader complimented the home minister for meeting him. "Mr Jana Reddy's initiative is a revolutionary step," he added.

After inspecting conditions at the high security prison here, Mr Reddy, who was on a surprise visit, expressed his wish to speak to the Jana Shakti leader to know an inmate's view. Jail authorities then requested Mr Rajanna to meet the home minister and the former immediately obliged.

Answering a question posed by Mr Rajanna, the home minister said that the government was thinking of releasing eligible prisoners during Independence Day.

The Jana Shakti leader urged the home minister to implement the new jail manual and do away with the old one. "We are doing our best to turn prisons into reform centres rather than punishment centres," said Mr Reddy.

"The government will soon open a community prison to give inmates more freedom." Mr Reddy also enquired about the Mr Rajanna's health and about the amenities at the Naxalite barrack.