Bhubaneswar: Tension gripped the Kalinga Stadium vicinity after a person died in a hit-and-run case around 5.30 on Monday morning.

The incident sparked off protests by morning walkers who felt that the decision of the stadium authorities to restrict their entry into the complex had led to the accident that also left two women injured. Angry morning walkers also put up a road blockade in front of the stadium complex.

Though details about how the accident occurred is yet to emerge, an eyewitness has told the police that a private taxi rammed into morning walker Dambarudhar Behera, 55, killing him on the spot. The vehicle also hit Binapani Pati, 47, and Kunjalata Kundu, 43, who suffered injuries and were rushed to the Capital Hospital. They were discharged after preliminary treatment.

Deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi said they had started an investigation to identify the killer vehicle. "We are analysing the CCTV footage of the area to trace the vehicle," Bhoi said.

Morning walkers, however, blame the sports department for the death.

"The decision of the sports department to restrict the entry of morning walkers into the stadium have forced them to walk on the busy road. The accident happened because of this arbitrary decision. Though several influential persons are being allowed entry into the stadium, common men like us have been barred. As a result, we are forced to walk on the road risking our lives," said senior citizen Nirmal Behera.

The authorities had restricted the entry of morning walkers into the stadium complex from November 16 for security reasons before the Men's Hockey World League Final.

Though the tournament has ended on December 10, the stadium still remains out of bounds for morning walkers. The stadium is among the most sought-after venues for morning walkers here with nearly 1,000 people, most of them senior citizens, visiting the complex every day.

Justifying it decision to continue the ban on the entry of morning walkers into the complex even after the hockey tourney has ended more than a month ago, a sports department officials said that the stadium was being revamped for November's Men's Hockey World Cup.

"Construction is likely to end by June, we can take a call on the issue only after that," said an official of the sports department.

The morning walkers, including a number of senior citizens, refused to lift their road blockade but finally did following the intervention of the police.