Over 150 Catholic schools and colleges in Bombay closed their doors today in protest at an attack on a priest.
He was allegedly assaulted by members of a right-wing Hindu nationalist group.
Many Catholics also wore black badges in response to a directive from Archbishop of Bombay Ivan Dias.
"All these messages express disgust at these senseless and barbaric gestures, which tear apart the secular fabric of our beloved motherland," Archbishop Dias said.
Archbishop Dias described the attack one week ago on Father Oscar Mendonca of St John the Baptist church on the outskirts of Bombay as "senseless, barbaric and pre-meditated".
The assault took place on August 6th, as the Hindu militant Bajrang Dal organisation held a memorial procession for 25 Hindu nationalists killed two years ago in the northeastern state of Tripura.
As they passed the St John the Baptist Church, about 25 Bajrang Dal members forced their way inside and demanded Mendonca apologise for the Tripura killings, saying they had been organised by local Catholic groups. Then they allegedly beat the priest.
Fifteen Bajrang Dal activists have been arrested in relation to the assault.
AFP