HANGU, Oct 9: At least 13 people were injured, four of them seriously, when thousands of violent protesters clashed with law enforcement agencies and damaged public and private property here on Tuesday to condemn the air attacks on Afghanistan and President Pervez Musharraf’s support to the United States.

The protest demonstration was taken out on the call of Jamiat Ulema Islam and Sipah-i-Sahaba. The demonstrators, shouting slogans against American President George Bush and Gen Pervez Musharraf, turned violent near the main chowk and started pelting stones at the Bank of Khyber and the United Bank, badly damaging the two buildings.

All educational institutions, government offices and markets remained closed and the daily life came to a standstill.

Heavy police and Frontier Constabulary contingents deployed to control the situation resorted to severe tear-gas shelling and fired in the air to disperse the enraged protesters. The showdown continued for several hours.

The shelling turned the demonstrators more violent. They gathered again and started marching towards Railway Road, pelting shops, banks and vehicles with stones. They also set fire to the CIA police post  and the Islamic Investment Bank. A car parked in front of the police post was also set on fire.

The demonstrators also exchanged fire with the police, which resulted in injuries to 13 people, including two police constables and one FC man.

After the exchange of fire, the protesters gathered on Thall Road and ransacked public and private property. The local Wapda House was also pelted with stones.

The mob also set fire to the offices of the International Rescue Committee (IRC). The blaze reduced to ashes 25 computers, 35 refrigerators, five photostat machines, furniture and other valuables worth millions of rupees.

The names of some injured are: Tehseenullah, Akbar Khan, Sarfraz, Azmat  Ali, Gul Agha, a local councillor, Noor Janan, who lost a hand when hit by a shell, Sabir Khan, Assistant Sub Inspector Rehmat Gul and Shamsuddin.

The police arrested dozens of protesters and the local police stations were filled to capacity.