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Indian churches come under attack Indian churches come under attack
(about 9 hours later)
A curfew has been imposed in parts of the eastern Indian state of Orissa after Hindu hardliners attacked up to a dozen Christian churches, police say.A curfew has been imposed in parts of the eastern Indian state of Orissa after Hindu hardliners attacked up to a dozen Christian churches, police say.
One person was killed and more than 25 were injured in the violence in the Kandhamal area on Tuesday, police said. One person was killed and more than 25 injured in the violence in the Kandhamal area on Tuesday, police said.
The clashes followed differences between local Hindu tribal and Christians over Christmas celebrations. Christians said it was sparked by Hindus objecting to a performance they were staging to celebrate Christmas.
Security was tightened at churches in Orissa, which has seen violence between Christians and Hindus in the past. But a Hindu group said it began when Christians tried to attack a local Hindu leader on Monday, Christmas Eve.
The trouble began on Monday morning at Brahmanigaon village, 150km (95 miles) from the main district town of Phulbani, over Christmas celebrations. It said a group of people surrounded the vehicle carrying Swami Laxamananda Saraswati as he was on his way to the area. He was taken to hospital but was not seriously hurt.
While local Christians wanted to celebrate the event in a grand way, the local Hindus opposed the plan, police said. Now 'under control'
This led to a clash between the two communities. However it started, the violence appeared to culminate in the attacks on churches on Christmas Day.
Trouble escalated in the afternoon after a group of people attacked the vehicle carrying a local Hindu leader, Swami Laxamananda Saraswati, as he was on his way to the area. Christians were chased out of several churches - in many case just mud huts with thatched roofs - before they were set alight, officials said.
While his vehicle was partially damaged, Mr Saraswati and one of those accompanying him were injured, district police chief Narasimha Bhol said. One person was reported killed in the violence, but it was unclear whether that was a Hindu or a Christian.
Mr Saraswati is recovering in a government hospital. Hundreds of police were deployed following the violence, which had largely died down by Wednesday, a local government official said.
"The situation is tense but under control," said BB Mishra, a state inspector-general of police.
Orissa, which is mainly Hindu and has a tiny Christian minority, has seen violence between the two communities in the past.
The state has a law obliging people to ask for police permission before changing religion - thought to be a measure aimed at Christian missionaries.
Hindus have accused Christian groups of forcing low-caste people to convert.
Christians say they often convert willingly because of their treatment as outcasts.