The foundation for Azad Community Bhavan was laid at Pandeshwar here today amid chaos and protest from students of the Kerala Samajam School in the area.
District-in-charge minister Ramanath Rai and MLA J R Lobo laid the foundation in the presence of MLC Ivan D'Souza and Deputy Commissioner (DC) A B Ibrahim.
The district administration had decided to hand over the land to Wakf Board for constructing a district minority Bhavan.
Meanwhile, students and teachers of Kerala Samajam School, along with members of Adi Dravida Samaja Seva Sangha, staged protest claiming that the ground was used by the school as playground.
The protesters expressed their anguish at the decision of the administration to hand over the land to the Wakf Board despite the appeal of the Kerala Samajam School to the DC to provide the land for playground.
Local corporator Diwakar said the land was presently being used as playground, but the government had already sanctioned Rs 1 crore for the Minority Bhavan.
Before taking any step, the district administration was to obtain a no objection certificate from the Mangalore City Corporation, but they had not approached the MCC, he added.
In view of tension prevailing in the area, police arrived at the spot and brought the situation under control.
J R Lobo, MLA, said he was studying the matter and would take it up with the authorities.
