On the eve of Christmas, a priest was on Friday attacked by some youths inside a church in Rajasthan's Banswara district, a senior official said in Jaipur.
Saji Abraham, clergyman of St Thomas Orthodox Church suffered head injuries in the attack, which took place when he was busy preparing for Christmas celebrations, District Collector Gayatri Rathore told PTI over telephone.
The three youths enquired something from Abraham and then accompanied him inside the church where they attacked him with rods and chains, Rathore said.
The priest, who was admitted to hospital, is out of danger.
A case has been registered with the Banswara Kotwali police station and the additional superintendent of police asked to probe the incident.
No one has so far been arrested but the search is on for the assailants.