Three Muslim clerics were attacked by a group of men with sharp objects aboard a train in India's Uttar Pradesh state, India Today reported on Thursday.

According to India Today, the three clerics were attacked by six to seven men who also allegedly tried to throw them off the train.

The clerics reportedly had an argument with their assailants over covering their heads, who attacked them with iron rods and sticks as they got off the train.

The men — Maulvi Gulzar, Israr and Abrar — have all been admitted to a hospital, India Today reported.

The three men, who boarded a passenger train at Delhi last night, were on their way to a village in Baghpat when they had a tiff with some youth who allegedly beat them up, the daily quoted Superintendent of Police Baghpat Jaiprakash Singh as saying.

A first investigation report has been registered against unknown assailants and the case is being transferred to Railway Police.