Congress candidate from Aska assembly seat critically injured after miscreants open fire

Berhampur (Odisha), May 22 (PTI): Congress candidate from the Aska assembly seat Manoj Jena was critically injured on Wednesday after four unidentified miscreants opened fire at him in Lanjipalli area, police said. The incident took place under the Biadyanath Pur police station here when Jena along with his associate was riding a motorcycle, they said. Jena was rushed to the MKCG Medical College Hospital here and later shifted to the SCB medical college hospital in Cuttack. He is seriously injured, police said. Police said four unidentified miscreants, who were in two motorcycles, opened fire targeting Jena during which his associate also sustained bullet injury. Additional Superintendent of Police (Berhampur) Pravat Routray said the exact cause of the firing was unknown. "We suspect it to be due to previous enmity," the ASP said. They immediately fled from the spot towards Andhra Pradesh side before anyone could find out what exactly happened, he said. "At least two police teams have been engaged to search the miscreants," the ASP said, adding that the motive behind the crime will be ascertained after investigation. Jena, who contested from the Aska assembly segment as a Congress candidate, was pitted against BJD candidate Manjula Swain, wife of former MP (Aska) Ladu Kishor Swain and BJP's Debaraj Mohanty. Mohanty, who was a sitting MLA of the BJD, had joined the BJP after being denied re-nomination by the party. The incident has spread panic among the people as it happened ahead of counting of votes for the Lok Sabha election.