A businessman of Shergarh under the Khantapada police station in the district was shot at by two miscreants during their robbery attempt on Saturday.
The injured Bhagavat Rout sustained bullet injuries.
The incident took place at around 2 pm when Rout was closing his shop. Two youths came to his shop and asked him for some snacks. When Rout was giving them snacks, the duo tried to snatch a gold chain from him.
In the bid to offer resistance, Rout sustained injuries as one of the accused took out a gun and fired four rounds at him. The miscreants then fled from the spot.
Rout was hit by bullets in his right hand and head. He was rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital and later shifted to the SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack as his condition deteriorated.
Later, Baleswar SP B Jugal Kishore reached the spot and initiated a probe.