Agitators burn a tyre to block NH-18 to protest against the murder of a student in Baripada. Telegraph picture

Baripada, Aug. 31: A group of people beat a college to death here last night.

The victim has been identified as Prasannojit Pani, 23, a final-year masters in finance and control student.

The incident occurred near the North Odisha University campus after Pani had an altercation with the group of around six people. The brawl started when Pani’s motorcycle hit a two-wheeler that belonged to one of the group.

Students of variouscolleges demonstrated on NH-18 near Takatpur in protest against the murder. Traffic on the national highway was disrupted for more than an hour. The students dispersed after the sub-collector and some senior police officers arrived at the spot.

“A case has been registered and three persons have been detained,” said Ratikanta Giri, inspector in charge of the town police station.

Sub-divisional police officer Sudhakar Jena said raids were on to arrest others involved in the brawl.

While most of the colleges of Baripada remained closed today in protest, a students’ organisation has given the call for a 12-hour bandh in the town tomorrow.

Deputy superintendent of police S.R. Mahapatra said: “We have deployed adequate forces in the town to maintain law and order because students are involved. We are trying to catch the accused.”