A laboratory assistant, Ratikant Behera, of the Upendranath College in Soro in Baleswar district died during a clash between two rival student groups on Wednesday.
According to reports, students of the college had staged a dharna in front of the main gate over a clash between two groups of students on Tuesday.
College principal Bijay Mohapatra and some staffs, including Behera, went to pacify the agitating students. The staffs managed to convince the students to withdraw the dharna. After returning to the staff common room, Behera complained of illness, following which he was rushed to the Soro Community Health Centre (CHC), where he was declared brought dead.
However, the brother of the deceased claimed that Behera was pushed by a student while entering into the common room, following which he fell down and died.
Police have registered an unnatural death case into the incident. The exact reason behind the death was yet to be ascertained. Investigation into the matter is on, a police official said.