Bhubaneswar, Sept. 28: Two days after Suman Sharma died during a violent protest by Utkal University students, police registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

The case was registered against unidentified persons under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code on the basis of a complaint filed by the deceased's husband Binod Kumar on Sunday.

In his complaint, Kumar had held the agitating students responsible for the tragic incident.

Suman allegedly died of cardiac arrest and breathing problems as she was shocked and frightened at the sight of demonstrators rushing towards her car. The incident took place on the highway that passes in front of the university.

The students were protesting against the varsity authorities' decision to cancel the union polls.

Eyewitnesses said Suman, who was driving an SUV, was so frightened by the sight of protesters approaching her vehicle that she fell unconscious while trying to take a turn. She was taken out of the vehicle by breaking the windowpanes and rushed to Capital Hospital, where she was declared dead on arrival.

"She became the victim of a road blockade in which she had no role to play. The police should conduct a thorough probe," said Binod.

Though he blamed the protesters for Suman's death, Binod Kumar yesterday advised the students to refrain from such violent acts.

"I appeal them not to cause inconvenience to anyone that can lead to such unfortunate incident," Binod had said.

On the other hand, Suman's family members threatened to move the human rights commission alleging police inaction in the entire episode.

"Though there are three private hospitals located near the place where the incident took place, the police decided to shift her to the government-run Capital Hospital, which is around seven kilometres away from the spot. Had she been admitted in the nearest hospital, her life could have been saved," alleged one of her family members.

Deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi said they would go through the media footage to ascertain the circumstances that led to her death.