Bhubaneswar, Feb. 27: The body of a 26-year-old student was found on the road opposite the Indian Oil office in the Chandrasekharpur police limits last night.

While police said the death occurred in a road mishap, family members of the deceased, Mahaprasad Swain, who was a final-year engineering (civil) student at College of Engineering Bhubaneswar, alleged foul play.

Swain was found lying in blood, along with his damaged motorcycle, around 12.05am last night. Chandrasekharpur police rushed him to Capital Hospital where he was declared brought dead.

The police said Swain was riding a motorcycle with one of his friends, Barun Jena. 'He lost his balance and hit the road divider. While Swain suffered severe injuries, Barun's injuries were less serious. He was seen shouting for help,' said a police official.

The police said Swain, a native of Nimapara in Puri district, was on his way home at Unit-VIII when the mishap took place.

'He had gone to attend a college function. Later, he informed us that he would be late as he had a heated argument with some of his friends. We suspect that someone has killed him,' alleged his father Balaram Swain.

However, police denied the allegations of foul play.

'The stretch where the accident took place is one of the most busiest roads. It wouldn't have slipped anybody's notice if somebody had attacked him,' said a police official.