MIRAMSHAH, Jan 24: Taliban have shot dead seven people in North Waziristan after accusing them of being US spies.

Officials said here on Sunday that five of the people killed were Afghans. They said that five bullet-riddled bodies were found in Kam Sarobi village of Dosali tehsil. The militants had killed them on Saturday night and thrown the bodies on the road.

“A note found near the bodies said that they were spying for the United States and warned that all traitors would meet the same fate,” said a resident of Kam Sarobi. The note said that more ‘US spies’ were ‘in custody’ and they would be treated under what they call their Sharia.

Three of the five were identified as Gul Khallel Jan, Habibur Rehman and Mashkor Machikhel. The names of the Afghans who were from Khost and Kandahar could not be ascertained.

Taliban killed more than 20 local people and Afghan nationals on similar charges in North Waziristan last year. Militants say these people were hired by Americans in Afghanistan to gather information about Taliban activities.

The sources said two other bodies had been found in Qutabkhel area and the other in Mirali Bazar. Taliban have warned residents not to bury their bodies.

Militants fired five rockets at Tochi Scouts fort in Miramshah on Saturday night, but no casualty was reported.

Meanwhile, security forces arrested 70 suspects, some of them Afghan nationals, during an operation in Maches area. The operation was launched on Friday.

Officials said that those found innocent would be released after completion of interrogation. They said that Afghan nationals were living in an old refugee camp illegally and they might be deported to their country.