Defending the action of the law-enforcers in the face of countrywide violence by Jamaat-Shibir activists in the last couple of days, State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku yesterday claimed that police opened fire in self-defence.

He also warned that the law-enforcers will contain the terrorist activities of Jamaat and BNP with all their force.

"The police have the right to defend in case of violent attacks on them, as the activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir did on them on Thursday and Friday leading to the deaths of 10 cops," Tuku said.

He said BNP and Jamaat are unleashing a reign of terror in the country to save the war criminals.

"As part of that plot, Jamaat-Shibir, backed by the BNP, are attacking police stations, opening fire on police, hurling bombs at the lawenforcers and killing them in the name of staging demonstration."

About the 72-hour countrywide hartal separately called by Jamaat and BNP, Tuku said as long as they will continue to call hartal, unleash reign of terror and kill people, the police will not be sitting idle.