Members of the Christian community were attacked and a dais erected to offer prayers was pulled down by villagers of Kyarakoppa after they suspected an attempt to convert fellow Hindus in the Dharwad Rural police limits on Tuesday evening.
Two members of the minority community received minor injuries in the attack, Dharwad Rural police inspector A R Badiger said.
A group of 10-15 youths stormed the pandal and pulled down the shamiana put up for prayers. When questioned, the group assaulted two persons, including T.L. Patil, a convert at whose premises prayers were being held.
The police rushed to the village and brought the situation under control.
The police said the function had been organised by Patil, a retired assistant registrar of Karnatak University, who had taken to preaching lately.
However, the villagers alleged that Patil, who settled down in the village recently, had been luring poor villagers, particularly those belonging to the majority community. They alleged that Tuesday's meeting was arranged for the conversion of a number of villagers.
They claimed that the Dharwad Rural police had been tipped off about the possible conversions on Tuesday morning but the police were not seen until the villagers mounted an attack.
Badiger said no one had been arrested, and the attackers had been let off. Patil, who was attacked, refused to lodge a complaint, he added.