Law enforcers and protesters clashed as barricades in Mong Kok district were removed by Hong Kong authorities.
The operation was part of a court order issued by Hong Kong officials to open the streets of Mong Kok to traffic.
Armed with pepper sprays, batons and shields, rows of police officers dressed in riot gear marched toward the protesters to break them up and clear the area.
The confrontation led to protesters being slammed to the ground and blasted by pepper spray. Many of those who were injured were taken by paramedics and fellow protesters.
After the scuffle ended, around 80 protesters were arrested. They were handcuffed and placed inside police vans that were waiting in the area.
According to one of the protesters, 26-year-old Vincent Man, law enforcers targeted leaders of the rally in an attempt to paralyze the movement, according to Reuters.
"They want to arrest key people in the frontline to sap the resistance of the movement, but they will fail," he said. "We will keep fighting and win new streets to expand the occupation zone."
Among those who were arrested were protest leaders Lester Shum and Joshua Wong. Shum is an officer of the Hong Kong Federation of Students while Shum is the founder of activist organization Scholarism.
Before the clash on Tuesday erupted, Shum said protesters are not afraid of being arrested by the police.
"We will still conduct our civil disobedience action until the last second, until the plaintiffs or the police arrest us," he told CNN.
The law enforcers were able to successfully drive back the protesters which allowed the street cleaners to take down the makeshift barricades and tents left by supporters of the movement, Bloomberg reported.
Police Senior Superintendent Kong Man-keung said during a press meeting that for now, their orders are to ensure that the streets of Mong Kok remain open and free of protesters.
"Police will ensure that the cleared roads will not be occupied again," he said. "If that happens, police will take resolute action. "We're here to restore social order and public safety.
