Rajshahi: At least three people were injured as the pro-hartal activists clashed with law-enforcers at two places in the city on the first day of the 36-hour strike.

The 18-party alliance led by BNP enforced the hartal demanding immediate release of its leaders and activists.

Alamgir Hossain, Officer-in-Charge of Detective Branch of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police, told BSS police lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the activists of Chhatra Dal after they hurled brickbats at police and exploded bombs from a procession brought out from Hetem Kha area around 7:00am.

He said police fired in the air after Shibir activists attempted to block a road at Binodpur. The activists also blasted several bombs and cocktails targeting police.

Ziaur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Boalia Police Station, admitted that they fired rubber bullets and teargas canisters to disperse the activists.

Meanwhile, all the inter-district buses were stayed off the roads since the morning due to hartal. But, the rail communication remained normal ignoring the strike.

On the other hand, Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) set up a security network since the early morning to ensure security of the public assets and lives during the general strike, said SM Muniruzzaman, Commissioner of RMP.

Besides RAB, additional police and members of the APBN were deployed at all the sensitive points like Shaheb Bazar, Sonadighi point, Gourhanga, Binodpur, Laxmipur and halbagan to avert any sorts of anarchy, he added.

Ends/AMA/09/04/13