The elderly housewife, Meena Devi Lohia, was attacked by the servant, who is now undergoing treatment at a private nursing home with serious head injuries.

The police said the Lohia family, which resides on the first floor at Sovabazar Street, hired an 18-year-old domestic help, Ramesh Das, six days ago. On Wednesday, Das allegedly attacked the 55-year-old with a wooden stick, when she was alone in the house. Her husband, Kailash Lohia, was out of the city along with his elder son. Her two other sons had left for their shop earlier in the day.

Meena Devi reportedly told the police that she fell unconscious after being assaulted and later found herself tied and gagged inside the bathroom, which was locked from outside.

She later managed to alert her neighbours who rescued her. The police said Das ransacked the entire house for valuables and managed to decamp with a few thousand rupees and jewellery.

Meena Devi, however, could not inform the police about the exact value of the ornaments looted. Police are waiting for Lohia and his elder son to return to Kolkata.

Probe revealed that Bishnu, another servant, had introduced Das to the Lohia family. “The Lohia family could not provide any detail about either Das or Bishnu,” said Jawed Shamim, Deputy Commissioner, Detective Department. “A case has been registered with the Jorabagan police station and the anti-robbery section of the detective department has initiated the investigation,” added Shamim.