Maoists form human shield in Lalgarh
* Kill CPM leader, two party activists
* WB govt to launch operation
Lalgarh/Kolkata (WB), June 17
Flaunting AK-47 rifles, Maoists today roamed Lalgarh and formed a human shield comprising women and children vowing to stop security forces from storming the area as three CPI-M activists were killed in fresh outbreak of violence, after which West Bengal decided to launch an operation against the Naxals without saying when.

Nation page: Army to set up new unit in Naxal belt
Opinions page: From Lal Salam to Lalgarh

Activists of the People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities demolish the house of a CPM member in Lalgarh village on Wednesday. — AFP

PM offers talks to Kashmiri groups
On Board Air India One, June 17
Seeking to reach out to all sections of the Kashmiris right in the beginning of his second innings as the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh today expressed the Centre’s readiness to enter into a dialogue with all groups, including those outside the political mainstream, to bring peace and stability to Jammu and Kashmir.

Manmohan’s remark unacceptable, says Pak
Editorial: Beyond the handshake

US aid to Pak in final lap
A US Senate committee on Tuesday unanimously approved a Bill to triple non-military aid to Pakistan. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 16-0 to increase aid to $7.5 billion over five years. The Bill now proceeds to the Senate for a vote.

Swine Flu
Four more test positive in Delhi
New Delhi, June 17
Four more persons tested positive for swine flu in Delhi, taking the total number of those affected by the (HINI) virus to 35 in the country today. Confirming the four fresh cases, Health Ministry officials said all were undergoing treatment in the isolation facility.

SWINE FLU HELPLINE

Attack on Lankan Team
One held, mastermind identified
The Lahore police on Wednesday claimed to have arrested one of the seven suspects in the March 3 attack on the Sri Lankan team besides identifying its mastermind. The suspect Nek Mohammad also made a sensational statement to the press that he and his colleagues stayed for two days in Mansoora prior to the attack, the headquarters of right-wing Jamaat Islami that is bitterly opposed to the military operation against the Taliban.

Trapped Childhood Caught between diplomacy and despondency Hoshiarpur/Jalandhar/Faridkot,  June 17 Seven-year-old Mohammad Nabi can be seen crying incessantly for several hours every day. Begging to be sent to his mother, he is huddled close to his brother, Noor, who is only two years elder to him. And when Noor also gives in to tears, their eldest brother, 13-year-old Parvez, puts up a brave face and reassures them that they will soon be reunited with their parents. No hope either