Prabhu Nath Sharma, the younger brother of J.N. Sharma, a senior scientist with Bhaba Atomic Research Centre, suffered severe injuries when he was attacked with iron rods and wooden sticks at his Dehri-on-Sone residence in Rohtas on Wednesday.

Prabhu (45) has been admitted to a private nursing home with injuries on his back, stomach and other parts of the body. The incident occurred around 1pm when Prabhu had gone to get his ancestral house evicted from the forcible possession of alleged grabbers at Babu Ganj (Bara Pathar) under the jurisdiction of Dehri town police station.

The attackers also snatched his gold chain and Rs 15,000 in cash, which he was carrying in his wallet. Apprehending threat to his life, Prabhu had on Tuesday informed the police and sought protection. However, no action was taken against the offenders.

"When I visited my house on Wednesday, I was brutally assaulted in full public view by grabbers - Pritam Sharma, his brother Gautam Sharma and their alleged goons," he said in the complaint lodged with the Dehri town police station. Prabhu came to Dehri-on-Sone, the sub-divisional headquarters town of Rohtas, around 165km southwest of Patna, from Mumbai on Tuesday.

Prabhu, who has settled in Mumbai for business purposes, alleged that the local police were working under pressure as the grabbers enjoyed political patronage. "Had it not been the case, I would not have been thrashed in full public view even after giving prior information to the police," he added.

Scientist J.N. Sharma had earlier written to chief minister, chief secretary and the director-general of police seeking their intervention to get his ancestral house evicted from forcible possession. "I am deeply hurt by the non-cooperative attitude of the top administrative and police officers of the state, which I originally hail from," the scientist said.

The station house officer of Dehri town police station, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, said: "The incident was a result of property dispute. A counter FIR has been lodged by Gautam and his brother Pritam against Prabhu, whose family has already settled in Durgapur in Bengal." Pritam and Gautam claimed the property belonged to them.