Five people were killed and two others injured when stray shells landed on houses in Swat district’s Chaparyal area, residents said on Monday. Also, seven army men, including a major and a captain, who were kidnapped by local Taliban in Kabal, were freed on Monday, Taliban sources said.The five people, including four of a family and a child, were killed and another child injured as the army continued pounding suspected militant hideouts with artillery in the Chaparyal and Venai areas. Another child was allegedly injured in shelling from military helicopters in Venai, the residents said. Provincial government spokesman Amjad Iqbal was not aware of these casualties. About the release of troops, he said they escaped from captivity after overpowering their Taliban guards last night. “The two officers and five soldiers reached at a safe location at around 4am.”He also said seven people, including a would-be suicide bomber and a foreigner, were detained in Kanjoo and Mingora.
In Kabal, the houses of Maulana FazlullahÂ’s aides Akbar Hussain and Ishaq were demolished by locals, Amjad said. The residents said the army continued targeting militant positions in the Ghat Piochar, Shaur, Namal, Venai and Chaparyal areas.