KARACHI, Oct 15: Several people, including four policemen, suffered injuries during a clash between police and protesters and three ambulances of the Edhi Foundation were attacked on Monday — the day of strike called by religious parties to condemn US-UK led bombing on Afghanistan.

A number of youths carrying sticks and clubs appeared on various roads in Lyari, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, New Karachi, Nazimabad, Quaidabad, Orangi Town, Gizri, etc, and set old tyres on fire.

Police at various places resorted to teargas shelling and baton charged protesters. The city police chief, Tariq Jamil, told Dawn that the police arrested some 100 people for taking the law into their hands.

A group of youths took to the roads near the New Karachi Industrial Area police station and burnt tyres on the road. They attacked a nearby police check post and destroyed it. Thereafter, they attacked the New Karachi Industrial Area police station and razed a portion of its boundary wall.

While the police resorted to ariel firing and teargas shelling to disperse the mob, the youth pelted policemen with stones and the clash lasted for more than an hour.

The area police called for reinforcements and the rangers reached there to bring the situation under control. The law- enforcement agencies picked up a dozen protesters for breach of peace and causing loss to government property.

During the clash, a youth, later identified as Imran, 17, suffered a bullet wound in the lower abdomen area and was taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where he was operated upon.

A second violent clash took place between the police and protesters on Mauripur Road, where Aqaldeen and Rifatullah were shot and wounded. They were taken to Civil Hospital where they were operated upon.

Another group of people appeared in Gulshan-i-Iqbal near Gulshan Chowrangi and set tyres ablaze on the main road. The police reached the spot and resorted to ariel firing and teargas shelling.

The police also dispersed angry youths on University Road who were pelting moving vehicles with stones.

An Edhi ambulance (EA-1126) was attacked by protesters near Lasbella Chowk. Another Edhi ambulance (EA- 1209) was attacked near Wazir Mansion.

A policeman was injured when a mob attacked a police party near Aga Hotel behind Indus Plaza on Super Highway. The policeman, identified as Humayun was taken to a hospital. The police lobbed teargas shells to control the situation.

Lyari was the worst-hit area during Monday’s strike where the roads were littered with bonfires and stones.

Protesting youths put barricades on roads, burnt old tyres and pelted moving vehicles with stones on thoroughfares.

Lea Market, Aath Chowk, Mauripur Road, Chawkiwara Road, Mewa Shah Road and Shah Latif Bhittai Road remained blocked for all kinds of vehicular traffic in the morning.

However, the police failed to control the angry protesters as they took shelter in the nearby narrow lanes where they had erected barricades to stop police entry.

The hide-and-seek between police forces and protesters continued in the adjoining areas of Lea Market, including Baghdadi, Haat Chowk and Chawkiwara for quite some time.

Three policemen suffered injuries during a clash with protesters at Lea Market Chowk. The injured were identified as Khalilur Rehman, Tariq and Mazhar Iqbal.

A heavy police force was deployed at Lyari Town Office, Chawkiwara, to prevent protesters from causing any damage to municipal property.

An Edhi ambulance was also damaged on Mauripur Road near ICI roundabout.

The Wazir Mansion railway station was also damaged by a mob on Monday, adds APP.

According to railway sources, stick-carrying protesters ransacked the ticket stocks and burnt record and furniture.