Dharmapuri (TN)/Bangalore, Oct 7 : Attacks on Christians have now spread to Tamil Nadu. Miscreants have broken statues inside a Christian school in the state''s Dharmapuri District.

The incident took place inside the ''Our Lady high School'' at Mathagondapalli near Thali in Dharmapuri District on Saturday night.

The school authorities have filed a complaint with the police.

"Some unknown persons entered the school and damaged the statues. Our police team has entered the school and registered a case. We will investigate," said Vijayram, an inspector at the Thali Police Station.

Police have also beefed up security at churches, mosques and temples in the wake of the attack.

This is the fifth attack on church property in Tamil Nadu. It came barely a day after a statue of Virgin Mary was damaged at Karavali in Nagercoil city.

Last week, some unidentified people damaged an idol at St Joseph''s Church at Arapalayam in Madurai. Before that, two Hindus were arrested for pelting stones at a church in Namakkal District.

The attacks on Christians have left at least 20 people dead and dozens of churches damaged.

Hindus with fundamental leanings have said they are determined to fight Christian missionaries for ''converting'' Hindus to Christianity.

Christian missionaries claim that Hindus convert willingly to escape the discrimination of the caste-system.

Brinda Karat, a politburo member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), blamed BJP-led State Governments for justifying the violence against Christians and for trying to divert attention from real issues.

"No action has been taken against them on the basis of prima facie visual evidence. Where is the question of conversions in justifying this violence against the community? There is no link between the two. This is a false link, which is being given a judicial sanction. This is not something which can be acceptable," said Brinda.

Violence began in Orissa with the murder of a Hindu leader Laxmanananda Saraswati in August that sparked weeks of deadly clashes, a killing which is also blamed on Maoist rebels.

The violence against Christians in Orissa was followed by similar attacks in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala. (ANI)