Sixty-three year old Saroj Datta who lives alone in his one-bedroom apartment is at present admitted at the Bhatia hospital and his condition is stated as critical.

According to the police, the bell at Saroj Datta's fifth floor apartment in the A-wing of Jaldarshan Building rang at 6.15 am. When he answered the door bell, three unidentified persons forced their way in and started stabbing him. The trio stabbed Datta repeatedly in the abdomen and thighs before gagging him and dumping him in the bathroom. They then rummaged the room for valuables and escaped from the scene of the crime.

Datta's bedroom was ransacked, cupboards were left wide open and household items scattered all over. The exact amount of the loss is yet to be ascertained though two gold rings have been reported missing, said the police.

Afterthe attack, Datta managed to somehow free himself and reach for his colleague Joan Rane Fricks on his cell-phone. She rushed Datta to the Bhatia Hospital. None of his neighbours however heard the commotion and were for long unaware of the incident.

Police suspect that since there is no sign of a forcible entry into the house the assailants must be known to the victim. According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Pradeep Sawant the motive of the attack clearly seems to be robbery.