50 hurt in Rajshahi pre-hartal clash

Among the injured, five bullet-hit persons belonging to Awami League were rushed to Puthia Health complex. They are Mizan, Joynal, Awlad, Zahangir and Dulal.

The policemen injured with brick bats are Sub-inspector Dipok Kumar and constables Amirul Islam and Shahnur Rahman of Puthia thana. They were given first aid, police sources said.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

The clashes ensued as police intercepted an AL procession in support of yesterday's hartal. Activists of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami also joined police. Some of the ruling party activists carried firearms, witnesses said.

Over a dozen shots were fired during the clash that lasted about an hour, they said.

Seven shops were also damaged during the clashes.

Puthia thana Officer-in-Charge Anisur Rahman said they fired two blank shots to disperse the clashing groups and brought the situation under control.

He however claimed that the clashed broke out when BNP and AL processions confronted in front of Puthia Jame Mosque.

The district AL General Secretary Tajul Islam Md Faruk claimed that armed BNP-Jamat activists attacked their peaceful procession.