ISLAMABAD: A clash between police and people protesting against 18 hours of unannounced loadshedding left over 50 injured in Mirpur, Azad Kashmir, on Monday. Eight policemen were also among the injured.

The prolonged outage amid a merciless sun prompted people to take to the streets on a call given by opposition parties in Azad Kashmir, including the Muslim Conference and the PML-N, and organisations representing lawyers, transporters and the business community.

The protesters first gathered at a place and then started marching to the Mangla dam power house. Joined by other people, they overran a police barrier on the Mirpur-Mangla road. But police placed containers on the Medial College road to prevent the protesters from going to the power house.

Police resorted to baton charge and fired teargas shells when the protesters tried to climb up the containers. The situation soon went out of control and the protesters started pelting police with stones and forced them to retreat.

Eight policemen, including SHO Thothal police station Khawaja Abdul Qayum, were injured.

A number of political leaders, traders and lawyers also suffered injuries. Several vehicles were damaged.

The protesters continued their march but were stopped on a bridge near Mangla dam, where police were better equipped to meet the mob under the command of deputy commissioner, SSP and DSP. They ordered police to resort to baton charge to disperse the mob. Another clash took place in which a number of people were injured.

The injured were taken to the Mirpur District Hospital. Most of them were discharged after treatment.

Traders said they would observe a token strike on Tuesday against what they called police action on peaceful protesters.