News in pics

Armed Maoist rebels escort police officer Atindranath Datta (third right) to his release in presence of the media in the village of Bholagara in Midnapore District, some 110kms west of Kolkata on Thursday. Escorted by commandos from the state police department, Dutta was greeted by his mother, wife, daughter, in-laws and other relatives when he reached home at 2.30 am. Last night, Dutta was handed over unharmed to journalists at a field in Lalgarh by the Left-wing ultras after the women arrested by the security forces in anti-Maoist operations in West Midnapore district were released on bail by a court. AFP