Dhaka, Oct 2 (UNB) – At least 20 people, including four cops, were injured and two vehicles torched and four others vandalised, as BNP activists clashed with police in front of its Nayapaltan central office and nearby areas on Tuesday.

Witnesses said the trouble began around 4:15pm as police tried to foil a BNP rally protesting attacks on the 18-party alliance leaders and activists and party standing committee member Mirza Abbas' motorcade and vandalising a BNP office in Netrakona allegedly by ruling party men.

At one stage, police charged batons and lobbed teargas shells on the opposition activists to disperse them, sparking off a clash that left at least 11 people injured.

Protesting the police action, the opposition activists torched a jeep near Ananda Bhaban Community Centre at about 4:30pm and a passenger bus in front of Mahtab Centre at Bijoynagar around 5:15pm, bringing traffic in the area to a complete halt until 7pm.

They also attacked police with brick chips in front of the community centre at about 5pm, leaving police constable Kawsar injured.

Police fired several rounds of teargas shells and charged batons to bring the situation under control. They also arrested 15 opposition activists from the spot.

Deputy police commissioner (Motijheel) Anwar Hossain said they went on action after the BNP men set fire to jeep before bringing out a procession.

BNP supporters exploded five crude booms — two near Ananda Bhaban Community Centre, two in front of the BNP office and another at Battalar Lane -- during the melee.

A chase and counter-chase between the cops and the BNP men continued till 5:30pm.

Meanwhile, another group of opposition activists locked into a clash as police prevented them from bringing out a procession in Malibagh Rail Gate area.

Officer-in-charge of Raman Police Station Shah Alam said the unruly opposition men hurled brickbats at the police, leaving three cops and five pedestrians injured.

They also ransacked two police motorbikes and two passenger buses, and exploded two crude bombs, forcing the law enforcers to fire teargas shells to bring the situation under control, the OC said.

Meanwhile, BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi at a hurriedly called press briefing alleged that the police swooped on their activists without any provocation, leaving some 50 injured.

He said they also arrested 20-25 BNP men.

Asked about the involvement of his party men in torching vehicles, he said it was an act of police to foil the opposition’s peaceful programme.