MANGALURU: Hundreds of students from St Ann’s School staged a protest and prevented Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) Mayor Kavitha Sanil from inaugurating a bar and restaurant near Kuntikana Junction on Thursday.
Mayor Sanil faced stiff opposition to inaugurate the bar from students of St Ann’s School and their parents. Bowing to protests, Sanil left the place without opening it. Sanil later told mediapersons that students and teachers of St Ann’s School told her that the new bar and restaurant was located within 80-metre radius of the school. However, the owner of the facility asserted that the bar was located beyond the mandated 100-metre radius of the school.
“As officials have to clear the confusion, I decided not to inaugurate the bar,’’ said Sanil. Sources told Express that the bar was later inaugurated by the deputy mayor. A teacher from St Ann’s School told Express that they submitted their objections against the bar to Excise DC and Deputy Commissioner.
“Excise DC did not respond but the Deputy Commissioner ordered the setting up of a committee to ascertain whether the bar and restaurant was located within 100-metre radius of the school,’’ the teacher said on condition of anonymity. Before the committee could submit a report, the owner hastily had the bar inaugurated, he charged.