DADU: A shutdown was observed in Bhan Syedabad town of Dadu district on Tuesday following a clash between police and local residents protesting against demolition of their houses and shops by an anti-encroachment team of the Pakistan Railways.

As soon as the PR demolition squad, escorted by the area police, started razing illegal structures, including houses, shops, tea stalls and food outlets, affected people put up strong resistance and physically stopped the squad from going ahead with the operation.

Police baton-charged the protesters but the situation aggravated when more people joined the protest. Police then lobbed teargas shells and also fired into the air to disperse them.

Railway police DSP Dilawar Hussain, some PR officials and four policemen, as well as several protesters were injured during the action. The demolition squad suspended the operation after the incident.

Soon after the clash, a complete strike was enforced across Bhan Syedabad by groups of club-wielding youths. A large number of people also held a demonstration on a road and the nearby level-crossing at Sehwan-Larkana section of the track disrupting road and rail traffic for several hours.