Seven Christian worshipers have been hospitalized with severe injuries after Hindu extremists stormed a church in India.

The incident reportedly took place during a Sunday service at the Peniel Prayer Fellowship in the central region of Chhattisgarh.

The church’s pastor, Wakish Sahu, said around 15 individuals entered the church waving wooden rods and shouting nationalist slogans. He said they set fire to Bibles, smashed chairs, and attacked members of the congregation.

Pastor Sahu’s 57-year-old father, who co-leads the church, lost consciousness after being beaten, and his mother was also assaulted while trying to shield her husband.

This marks the second time the church has been attacked in just over a year, and many worshipers are now too afraid to attend. On the same day as the most recent attack, three other churches in the region were also targeted.

Pastor Sahu said police had been patrolling around the church every Sunday, warning against the presence of outsiders:

“They have warned time and again that no one from other villages should be found in our midst.”

On the day of the attack, which occurred around three weeks ago, police returned but only intervened verbally when the violence erupted. Pastor Sahu said:

“It was very surprising that the police just told them, ‘It is enough,’ and they all just walked away. It appears that it was all in the knowledge of the police even before they attacked us.”

No charges have been filed against the perpetrators.

India currently ranks 11th on Open Doors’ World Watch List of countries where Christians face the most persecution. The watchdog group says violent attacks against Christians often go unpunished in areas where authorities support Hindu extremists.