The clashes took place during the dawn-to-dusk hartal in the three Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) districts, called by Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) to press for full implementation of the CHT peace accord and some other demands.

The injured, mostly from both the sides, also includes some policemen and passers by. Five of them were admitted to the district hospital.

Witnesses said the clashes followed a tussle between businessmen and PCJSS activists over the closure of a shop at the main market in the district town at about 11:00am.

PCJSS leaders alleged Bangalee Chhatra Parishad (BCP) activists pelted stones at pro-hartal pickets from inside the shop, which injured some of their activists.

But BCP leaders said PCJSS activists attacked hotels and restaurants that also left a number of BCP workers injured. This enraged BCP activists and they attacked Pro-hartal pickets.

The clashes later spread to adjoining areas with both the sides pelting brickbats and stones at each other.

In the afternoon, the district administration initiated a meeting between the two sides.

The PCJSS will stage a demonstration and hold a rally here today in demand for arrest and punishment of the BCP for what it said is attacks on its activists.