20 battalions to curb influx of Maoists
New Delhi, March 27
India has decided to strengthen its surveillance on the porous Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders keeping in view the security threat from the conflict between the Nepalese Government and Maoists. Home Minister Shiv Raj Patil today announced to double the strength of security forces guarding the two frontiers within two years.
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NRIs Rush! Citibank Offer

US defends sale of F-16s to Pak
The Bush administration on Friday insisted its decision to sell F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan and “multi-role combat aircraft” to India would help promote stability in the region even as critics warned the sales would trigger an arms race between the neighbours.
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Lockheed offers ‘exclusive’ F-16s
Editorial: Relations beyond F-16s
Nation page: No decision yet on US offer: Pranab
World page: F-16 sales decision rejuvenates Lockheed Martin

11 of family killed in mishap
Ferozepore, March 27
Eleven persons of a family were killed and a child was injured seriously when a Toyota Qualis in which they were travelling rammed into a truck near Kot Karor village, about 25 km from here, at about 6 a.m. today.

Punjab page: Pall of gloom at Dhimawali The damaged Qualis which collided with a truck near Kot Karor village on the GT Road in Ferozepore district on Sunday. — Photo by Anirudh Gupta

India, Pakistan to exchange passengers’ list
New Delhi, March 27
India and Pakistan will exchange this week the list of 30 passengers, who will travel by the first bus between Srinagar and Muzzafarabad on April 7.

J&K page: Preparations on for smooth journey
to Muzaffarabad

	Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi plays a reverse sweep as India’s Rahul Dravid looks on during the fourth day’s play of the third Test match between India and Pakistan in Bangalore on Sunday. — Reuters photo
Sports page: Pak push for series-levelling win and more

Amrita Thappar is Miss India Mumbai, March 27 Dazzling beauty from Pune Amrita Thappar was declared Pond’s Femina Miss India-Universe at a glittering ceremony here tonight. A post-graduate diploma holder in fashion designing, Amrita was crowned Miss India by last year’s winner Tanushree Dutta. Newly crowned Pond's Femina Miss India-Universe Amrita Thappar (centre) poses with Niharika Singh (Miss India Earth, left) and Sindura Gadde (Miss India World) in Mumbai on Sunday. — PTI photo