A Christian school in India has been attacked by over 300 Hindu nationalists.

St Joseph’s School in Madhya Pradesh State was targeted earlier this month after false allegations that the school was involved in religious conversions.

The charity CSW says many of the high school students were left traumatised by the attack which happened while they were sitting exams.

Students at the school were taking their Class XII examinations (ages 16 to 18) when members of right-wing Hindu groups, including Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, started throwing stones at the glass window at the entrance of the school and shouting slogans such as “Jai Shri Ram” (a Hindu chant meaning “Hail Lord Ram”). During the attack, the mob threw rocks at the windows, prised the doors open with iron bars, and stormed the building.

The manager of the school, Anthony Pynumkal, claimed that he had received information about the planned attack the previous day and had requested police protection, but the police failed to arrive until after the mob had dispersed.

Mr Pynumkal also said that the police have downplayed the seriousness of the damages.