Bhubaneswar, Sept. 27: The death of Suman Sharma, 43, who allegedly died of cardiac arrest and breathing problems during a demonstration by Utkal University students yesterday, has evoked sharp reactions.

The students had blocked a stretch of NH-5 in front of the university protesting against the cancellation of the students' union polls slated to be held next month.

While civil society members expressed concern over police inaction, her husband Binod Kumar today lodged a complaint with the Saheed Nagar police station alleging that the protesters were responsible for Suman's death.

Eyewitnesses had said that Sharma, who was driving an SUV, was so frightened by the sight of protesters approaching her vehicle that she fell unconscious at the wheel.

Deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi said media footage would be used during investigation.

Kumar, who is a teacher at Chaibasa in Jharkhand landed here this morning.

"I did not know about the incidenttill this morning. Suman's family had kept the news away from me fearing that I might breakdown. Once I reached here, I came to know about the circumstances leading to her death. What pained me most is that students were responsible for all this. What an irony because she loved students," Kumar told The Telegraph.

Suman used to run a computer institute at Patia and owned two private hostels in the city.

"She had left Jharkhand 12 years ago for higher studies and had completed her MTech in computer science from a Bhubaneswar-based institute. She was so fond of students that she joined an institute as a faculty member. Later, she started her own software training institute at Patia."

He, however, questioned the decision of the police to send Suman to Capital Hospital, where she was declared dead on arrival.

"I was told that she was taken to a government hospital seven kilometres away though there are three private hospitals nearby. They should have taken her to the nearest hospital, which could have saved her life. In such cases, time is of utmost importance."

He requested students to refrain from staging such violent agitations in the future that would cause inconvenience to people.

"We don't have any child, but all the students of her institute who have stood by us in this hour of grief are our children. I still cannot believe that she got frightened by the agitators, who were all students. They are like our sons. Students should refrain from such activities. I appeal to them not to repeat such acts as it might cost another life. There is nothing more precious than human life. I again appeal to them not to indulge in such activities as the victim could be their mothers or sisters."