KHAR, Aug 18: Seven people, two of them children, were killed and nine others were injured when gunship helicopters attacked suspected militant positions in Jar, Mulla Kali, Haji Lawang, Banda, Salarzai and Damadola areas of Bajaur tribal region on Monday.

Reports reaching here said that the helicopters hit the house of one Pinda Khan in Nawagai near the Afghan border, killing the two children. Local people said that five other people were killed in the attack.

They said that a local militant commander had also been killed, but it was not confirmed by independent sources. They said that militants had vacated their hideouts and gone into hiding.

Some measure of normalcy is returning to Khar, the regional headquarters of the agency, and people are resuming their business.

Displaced families have started returning to their homes, although the affected areas are without electricity.

Provincial minister Hidayetullah Khan who visited camps of displaced people in Monda in Lower Dir assured them of government help. He said that the provincial government had released Rs150 million for the displaced people, adding that all facilities would be provided to them in the camps.