BBC Correspondent Andrew Clark: Many Christians live in constant fear of right-wing Hindus

"We have received complaints of mobs setting on fire two prayer halls last night and additional forces have been rushed to these areas," the state's Additional Director General of Police, S.Banerjee said on Wednesday.

Representatives from the Indian Home Ministry are now in Gujarat to look into the disturbances following growing criticism that not enough was being done to protect the Christian community.

International concern

A representative of the Vatican in Delhi has been in touch with the Indian government about the attacks, and a US embassy spokeswoman said the American representative had also taken the matter up with the Home Ministry.

Demonstrators in Delhi condemn attacks on Christians

The Asian Age newspaper said other Western countries, including the UK, Italy and Germany had expressed their concern to the Indian government.

The United Christian Forum for Human Rights (UCFHR) says it has recorded more than 60 cases this year of violence against Christians, including incidents of Bible burning and rape. Most of the attacks are said to have taken place in Gujarat.

The BBC Correspondent in Delhi, Paul Danahar says that the investigation is clearly an attempt to prove to the Christian minority that the national government is taking the problem seriously.

Allegations

The Christian community says the attacks are part of a concerted campaign against them by Hindu organisations, including the World Hindu Council (Vishwa Hindu Parishad, VHP).

Paul Danahar in Delhi: "The Government is taking this very seriously."

"The Hindu activists are literally on the war path and there is a tremendous amount of fear among the Christians," said Cedric Prakash, UCFHR co-ordinator in Gujarat.

The VHP has denied any involvement, and repeatedly accused the Christian missionaries of converting the poor by force, a charge the Christians rejected saying their work is only to help the poor.

The damaged roof of a Christian school - one of everal attacks over Christmas

They also say that the situation has worsened since the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) came to power in Delhi in March.

But Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, who met Christian leaders earlier this month after they held a nationwide protest, dissociated himself from the VHP, and assured safety to Christians.

"India is a secular state and all citizens irrespective of religion and caste and region ... are to be provided with full safeguards, full security," he told reporters on Wednesday.