The United States has compensated the families of the victims in shooting spree committed by a U.S. soldier in a southern Afghan town on March 11, an official said Sunday.

"The compensation includes 50,000 U.S. dollars to anyone killed in the rampage shooting and 11,000 U.S. dollars to anyone injured in the tragic incident," a member of Kandahar Provincial Council Agha Lalai told Xinhua.

He also added that the compensation provided by the United States was distributed to the families of the victims on Saturday, adding that besides compensation the United States is firm to punish the soldier behind the shooting that left 17 people dead and injured nine others in Panjwai district of Kandahar province 450 km south of capital Kabul.