Guwahati, Feb. 17: A businessman and his father were critically injured after a gang of robbers broke into their house at Gotanagar here this morning and hit them with rods and sharp weapons.

Police said a gang of four to five robbers, armed with iron rods and sharp weapons, broke into the house of businessman Manoj Kalita, 32, through a rear door at 2am.

Kalita woke up on hearing a noise in the house. As he came out to investigate, one of the robbers attacked him on the head with a blunt object, probably an iron rod.

As he cried out in pain, his father, Kamini Kanta Kalita, 71, also woke up. The robbers attacked him with a sharp weapon.

“After being attacked, the father screamed till the robbers panicked and fled without taking anything. His screams alerted some neighbours, who saw a group of four to five persons running away,” a police source said.

Both father and have been admitted to GNRC Hospital. Manoj is battling for his life while his father, who sustained multiple cut injuries, is said to be out of danger.

A case has been registered at Maligaon outpost. Five suspects were picked up for interrogation but no one was arrested so far.

Only Manoj and his father were in the house when the thieves broke in, the police said.