Armed robbers attackeda church in eastern India during a Christmas service, injuringat least six people, including a priest.
Around 20 attackers armed with daggers, home-made pistolsand crude bombs attacked the church in Maliapota in West Bengalstate, where hundreds gathered to attend the midnight Christmasmass.
One of the priests resisted and sustained minor injurieswith a dagger. Around four other devotees and a policeman wereinjured when the robbers threw crude bombs to cause panic.
Maliapota is some 200 kms north of Calcutta, thestate capital.
Police said the attackers fled with 150,000 rupees ($3,129)looted from the church.
Over the past few years, Christian priests, nuns andchurches in western Gujarat state have been targeted byfundamentalist Hindus who accuse Christians of converting lowercaste Hindus by luring then with medicines and education.