Christian priest attacked

MUMBAI, May 10: A Christian priest from Ambarnath was reportedly assaulted by eight to nine youths on Sunday evening while he was conducting a prayer meeting at the M M High School ground in Ambernath.

At around 9.15 pm, when Rev Octavio Nevis was addressing a gathering of over 300 people in the open-air church called quot;Jesus For Allquot;, around nine youngsters sitting in the crowd suddenly got up and burst Diwali bombs. Even as the crowd started running for cover, the youths reportedly assaulted Rev Octavio with iron rods and broke his thumb. The priest was later rushed to a nearby hospital. It is not known yet if his injuries are grievous.

Ambernath police confirmed the incident late on Sunday night. PSI Tarde of Ambernath police said that the youths could not be traced as they escaped soon after assaulting the priest and ransacking the place.