Mumbai: Protesting against the communal violence in which Christians were killed in Orissa, about 150 convent schools running under the Bombay Archdiocesan Board of Education (ABE) located in Mumbai, Thane and Raigad will remain closed on Friday.

"Whenever there is violence against Christians, we express our solidarity. However, unlike previous incidents, the Government is inactive in this case. Schools and churches were ransacked. We want to draw people's attention to the brutal killings in Orissa. This is the first time that we are planning to keep our schools shut", said Gregory Lobo, Secretary of ABE.

"We also want to express solidarity with the children who were the victims of communal violence. We want to draw the authorities' attention towards their plight", added Lobo.

"We will support the Board's move. Our unit tests are on, but we will adjust the Friday test on some other day," said Joaguim Tellis, administrator for St. Mary's SSC and ICSE schools.

"The country should do something for the unjust killings in Orissa to draw the Government's attention", Tellis said.