'Christians beaten up' in Bhopal

Twenty-five Christians have been beaten up by attackers in the central Indian city of Bhopal, police say.

A witness said he saw about 35 people armed with iron rods and sticks fleering from the house where the Christians had been praying.

A BBC correspondent in Bhopal says this is the first such incident in the city.

Christians have been under pressure in the state, Madhya Pradesh, from right wing Hindus. One Hindu leader denied any involvement in the attack.

Bhopal police chief Anant Kumar Singh said several of the Christians, including a priest and a child, were seriously injured.

He said the prayer meeting included about 15 children.

Local Hindu organisation leader, Devendra Rawat, said he condemned such attacks.

But he said Christians in the area where the attack took place were offering incentives for poor and illiterate Hindus to convert.