Balasore, June 29: An unidentified member of a gang of dacoits sustained serious injuries on Thursday after a bomb in his possession exploded while the dacoits were trying to escape after looting a jewellery shop in Jaleswar.

The victim succumbed to injuries while being taken to SCB Medical College and Hospital.

Police said five armed goons, who came on two motorbikes, looted jewellery worth Rs 5 lakh from a shop around 9pm at gunpoint. All the accused persons were in the age group of 20 to 25.

The gangsters have fled to Bengal. The driver of the jewellery shop owner chased them in his car.

The police said one speeding bike lost control after it fell into a pothole. This resulted in a collision between the two motorcycles.

This happened near Dantun-Mohanpur, 20 kilometres from Jaleswar.

“One of them sustained injuries as the bomb that he was carrying exploded. The others ran away leaving him behind,” said inspector in charge of Jaleswar police station Dhaneswar Sahu.

Hearing the explosion, local residents gathered at the spot. The jewellery shop owner’s driver Tanaj Das reached the spot and with the help the local residents overpowered the injured dacoit.

On being informed by the jewellery shop owner, Jaleswar police reached the spot and took the injured youth to a local hospital. Later, he was shifted to Balasore district headquarters hospital and then to SCB Medical College and Hospital.

Jaleswar police officials said a police team had left for Bengal to identify the deceased and locate the other gang members.

The police suspect that the gang belonged to Bengal as the bikes they had left behind bore registration numbers of that state.

“We have established the identity of the gang. They belong to East Midnapore district,” said Balasore SP Rajesh Kumar, who led the team.