Bhubaneswar, Oct 25 (IANS) The Orissa government Sunday ordered a judicial inquiry into the death of an engineering student Saturday and the violence that followed in Bolangir district, officials said Sunday.
The incident would be probed by a retired high court judge, the official said.

Meanwhile, another student succumbed to his injuries Sunday after being “hit by police”, during a baton-charge Saturday. Sashikant Panda died in Burla Medical College Hospital where he was shifted from Bolangir Saturday after his condition deteriorated.

“My son was hit by police on the head. He could have been saved had he not been hit on the head,” said Umakanta Panda, the father of the student.

The state government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs.5 lakh to the next of kin and promised to bear the medical expenses incurred for the treatment of the injured.

The situation remained tense in the Bolangir district Sunday.

The district administration held consultations with political parties to defuse the tension. Security forces also conducted a flag march in the town.

Violence erupted in the town following the death of an engineering student Saturday, after a police vehicle allegedly hit the motorcycle of the student.

Hundreds of students took to the streets and destroyed half a dozen vehicles and ransacked the town police station.

Meanwhile, the driver of the police vehicle has been suspended.

“We are probing the entire incident. The driver has been suspended. We have ordered a departmental inquiry into the matter,” said Inspector General of Police Y.B Khurania.

Bolangir is some 400 km from Bhubaneswar.