MANGALORE: Police burst teargas shells and made a cane-charge to disperse members of the Christian community, after their protest against attacks on prayer halls in the state allegedly turned violent.

The protesters pelted stones at the police near Kulasekhara church in the heart of the city, said police adding that they burst teargas shells and used lathi-charge to disperse the crowd.

Police could not provide details about the number of injured in the incident.

Similar protests have also been reported from Shaktinagar, Vamanjur, Tokkotu and Bantwal, police said.

Situation was tense in the city as several shops and business establishments remained closed fearing violence.

However, the situation in the neighbouring Udupi district, which witnessed attack on prayers halls on Sunday, remained peaceful, police said.

No untoward incidents have been reported from Chikmagalur district, the sources said.

Nine churches in Dakshina Kannada and three each in Udupi and Chikmagalur districts were attacked on Sunday.

The district administration in Dakshina Kannada clamped prohibitory orders for three days as a precautionary measure.