Mangaluru : A large number of students in Jokatte protested in front of the coke unit of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) on Tuesday.

The demonstration was in continuation of the demand by Nagarika Horata Samithi, Jokatte, for closure of the coke and sulphur recovery units in MRPL phase III, accusing the two units of pollution.

Students from four schools in the area marched from the Jokatte Panchayat office to the coke unit entrance.

Addressing the protestors, Samir Jokatte, a class seven student of Government Higher Primary School, said the black dust particles from the coke plant were settling on the midday meals and his classmates had reported sick often due to exposure to such dust particles.

Students were also affected by the sound from the coke and sulphur recovery units, he said.

The company, meanwhile, has denied pollution from its units and maintained that all the safety parameters were being monitored strictly at the locations.