Bhubaneswar, Jan. 6: Panic gripped SCS College in Puri when a crude bomb exploded in front of its entrance this morning, leaving two youths injured.

Police suspect the clash and subsequent bombing to be the fallout of a past rivalry.

Eyewitnesses said that the bombing took place when two groups clashed in front of the college entrance around 10.30am. "The members of both the groups had an heated argument and later they began assaulting each other. Then, we heard the sound of an explosion," said an eyewitness.

Police said that while one group was led by a youth identified as Madhusudan Swain, the other group was led by Deepak Khuntia.

Madhusudan is not a student of the college. However, Deepak is a second-year BCom student.

Madhusudan suffered injuries to his head, while his friend Amarnath Khuntia suffered burn injuries in hands and legs. Both of them were rushed to Puri district headquarters hospital.

The groups blamed each other for hurling bombs. "We have seized a live crude bomb from the spot. We are also trying to nab others who fled from the spot. We are probing the incident to find out the exact motive behind it," said Puri Town police station inspector in-charge Dayanidhi Nayak.

Police sources said that Deepak had lodged a complaint last week alleging that Madhusudan was threatening him frequently. "We had arrested Madhusudan acting on the complaint. He was released on bail only a few days ago. Madhusudan's arrest might be the reason behind his having a grudge against Deepak," said a senior police officer.

The police are also probing whether the incident is a fallout of any enmity between the groups during last year's student's elections.