Bhubaneswar, March 4: Police today arrested five youths, including a law student, for allegedly assaulting Surya Narayan Sahoo, 38, son of sculptor Sudarshan Sahoo, at Nayapalli last night over a car accident.

Surya suffered severe head injuries and is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in the city.

The accused have been identified as Abhilash Mohanty, 24, Srimanta Panda, 25, Pabitra Ghose, 24, Jajati Keshari Sahu, 25, and Dibyajyoti Barada, 23. Police said Abhilash was a law student at University Law College, Vani Vihar.

The police said the incident took place around 11.45pm on Friday when the accused's car which met with an accident with the car of the victim. "Following the accident, both the parties had a heated argument. The youths hit Sahoo with iron rods and stones. They also damaged Surya's car," said inspector in charge of Nayapalli police station Suryamani Pradhan.

The cops suspect that the youths were drunk when the incident took place. The relatives of the victim alleged that the youths had looted money and the mobile phone of the victim. "He was returning home when the youths assaulted him. They also damaged his car. His condition is serious and he is admitted to a private hospital," said Rabi Narayan Sahoo, a relative of the victim.