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Janata Dal-United (JD-U) candidate of Kshetrigao assembly constituency in Manipur, Wahengbam Rojit, was shot at on February 26 night by unknown armed persons, reports said on February 27.

Rojit was rushed to a private hospital in a critical state. Local reports sai that the incident took place around 11:30 pm on February 26, wherein the candidate reportedly received bullet injuries.

Hospital sources said that a bullet hit on Rojit’s back exited on the right chest. His condition is critical but stable, sources added.

Sources said that miscreants fired at the candidate who was returning after visiting his polling camps in the area along with his security escorts, taking advantage of the darkness. After shooting the candidate, the assailants escaped in the same scooter they came with, reports said.

A large number of people gathered at the hospital in Imphal to enquire about Rojit’s health, condemning the incident and demanding action against those involved in the attack.

Condemning the shooting of the candidate, sit-in-protests were staged at various places across Kshetrigao assembly constituency. The protesters demanded immediate arrest of the assailants while alleging it was an attempt on the life of the candidate while calling for a free and fair poll in the constituency.

The Manipur unit of Janata Dal (United) also condemned the attack on its candidate while urging the state chief electoral officer (CEO) and the Election Commission of India to order an enquiry into the incident and also to provide protection to the JD(U) workers and family members of the candidate W Rojit Singh.

Party president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh and leader and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar have spoken to the wife of the wounded candidate over phone.

Leaders of the party in Manipur also visited the hospital where Rojit is being treated, a statement of the JD(U) said.

Kshetrigao is among 38 constituencies where voting is scheduled to be held on February 28 in round one of the two-phase Manipur assembly polls.

Security was beefed up in the hospital and Kshetrigao constituency after the attack.

(Editor’s Note: Additional information was added to the story after it was initially published.)

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