Bhubaneswar, Sept. 12: Police today arrested two engineering students, including the son of former Congress MLA Surendra Singh Bhoi, for allegedly ragging and assaulting a fresher at a private institute in the city.

The complainant, who is pursing bachelor in business administration, has suffered serious injuries.

The accused have been identified as Baba Shankar Narayan Das, 19, and Soven Singh Bhoi, 22. The duo allegedly assaulted the fresher on the campus and outside on yesterday afternoon. "A group of seniors entered the class room and started abusing and attacking me. One of them slapped me and threatened me of dire consequences if I informed the matter to the college authorities or the police. When I was outside the campus, the group attacked me with bottles," alleged the victim.

The police said the victim suffered injuries on his head and other body parts. "Yesterday, we registered a case on the basis of the compliant filed by the victim student. Prima facie, both the accused were found to be involved in the incident. Both of them have been held under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 307 (attempt to murder)," said deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi.Other students in the college also alleged that the authorities were not paying any heed to their complaints related to ragging.

"Not only the seniors have been harassing us mentally, at times, they even torture us physically. We have intimated the matter to the college authorities, but they have been ignoring our complaints," said a student.

Ponzi boss held

The economic offences wing of the state crime branch arrested the founder of Sai Pragati Assets and Properties Pvt Ltd, which had allegedly collected more than Rs 100 crore from investors across the state.

The accused, Kamalakanta Patnaik, is serving as the traffic inspector in the state transport department. He was arrested on the basis of a non-bailable warrant.

The police said the Ponzi firm, along with its sister concern Virgin World Wide Concepts Ltd, had started collecting money since 2010 on the promise of providing 8.5 per cent interest.

The company had also promised the investors to double their money in 24 months.

Lightning toll

Nine persons died when lightning struck them in various parts of the state this evening. Besides, five persons were injured in the incidents. Two women were killed when lightning struck at Baruamunda village within Komna police limits in Nuapada.

Similar cases were reported from other districts of the state as well. The local meteorological centre issued a lightning warning in 14 districts in the afternoon.