Suspected militants shot at and injured a District Development Council election candidate from a party widely called the “BJP’s B team” in the first election-related militancy violence in Kashmir.

The suspected militants shot at Anees ul Islam, who is contesting the polls as Apni Party candidate in Sagam village of South Kashmir’s Kokernag. The party was created last year in the aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370 as an alternative to traditional pro-India parties in Kashmir.

Official sources said the candidate was moving without security. The incident has triggered panic as many non-BJP candidates are campaigning without security. They claim that the government was putting hurdles in their campaigning to scuttle their chance of win while the BJP candidates have a free run.

A police spokesman said Anees received minor injuries to hand and thigh.

“The injured was immediately evacuated to a nearby hospital where his condition is stated to be stable,” he said.

The spokesman said the candidate was instructed to get a personal escort for campaigning, which “he did not take”.

“All the candidates (fighting elections) have already been instructed to inform us before going out for campaigning (so that proper security arrangements are made). The information regarding his movement was neither conveyed to the PCR (police control room) nor to the police station concerned,” he said.

Doctors said Anees had bullet injuries in his hand and buttocks, suggesting the assailants did not aim to kill him.

Parties from People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration, which is fighting for the restoration of Article 370 and is bitterly opposed to Apni Party, condemned the attack.

The attack took place as the third phase of DDC elections was underway.