BJP leader, aides shot at 30 times with AK-47 in Ghaziabad, critical

GHAZIABAD/LUCKNOW: A senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sustained severe injuries after four unidentified assailants opened fire at his SUV with AK-47

GHAZIABAD/LUCKNOW: A senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sustained severe injuries after four unidentified assailants opened fire at his SUV with AK-47 assault rifle in Rawli Road area on Thursday night.

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Police said BJP leader Brij Pal Teotia sustained at least 4-5 gunshot wounds after his car was attacked around 8pm in Murad Nagar.

An officer said Teotia was travelling with five others, including his bodyguards, in the car, all of who sustained bullet injuries.

“Teot ia was coming from Mu rad Nagar to Ghaziabad when the men travelling in a Fortuner SUV intercepted him. They then opened indiscriminate fire and fled the spot, said Rakesh Kumar Pandey, superintendent of police (rural).

T he BJP said Teotia was rushed to a hospital in Ghaziabad from where he was later shifted to Fortis, Noida, for better treatment. Doctors said Teotia’s condition was critical.

Chief Minister, Akhilesh Yadav rushed ADG (Law and Order) Daljit Singh Chawdhary and IG, STF Ram Kumar to Ghaziabad to oversee the operation launched by the district police to nab the attackers.

“The police recovered an AK47, two pistols, one rifle and large cache of ammunition used in the attack on the BJP leader,” Chawdhary told HT.

“The Special Task Force (STF) has been directed to assist the local police in the operation to nab the attackers,” Chawdhary said.

“This is the condition of law and order. Everyone in the car sustained bullet injuries. Calls were made to emergency number 100, but police arrived after 30 minutes,” alleged Ajay Sharma, city president, BJP.

KS Emmanuel, SSP, said, “Four teams of the Ghaziabad Police and one from the crime branch are looking for the suspects.” He further said two of the suspects, Manoj and Shekhar, had rivalry with the BJP leader. In 1999, there was triple murder in Ghaziabad, in which Teotia had gone to jail, he said.