[GRASS-user] Checking if a point (X, Y) is inside the polygons of a shape file using command line

[Corrado]

Dear friends,

I have a shape file, with some polygons. (I have imported it as vector layer.)

I have a point, expressed as X,Y coordinates (Easting,Northing). 

I want to know if the point is inside any of the polygons in the shape file. 

Is there a command I can use? 

I would rather use command line,  because I have many points, really.  I would 
like to find a way to do it from the command line, so that I can write a 
routine to extract each point and check if it is inside the polygons.

I can rephrase the question, if it is not clear.

I am not very experienced with Grass but would like to substitute ArcGIS, that 
we are using now.

Best regards
-- 
Corrado Topi

Global Climate Change & Biodiversity Indicators
Area 18,Department of Biology
University of York, York, YO10 5YW, UK
Phone: + 44 (0) 1904 328645, E-mail: ct529 at york.ac.uk