Ghaziabad: Unknown gunmen opened fire on a senior BJP leader Brijpal Teotia on Thursday evening on the outskirts of Delhi. The miscreants shot at least 100 rounds at his convoy in Ghaziabad using AK-47 rifles.

The local BJP heavyweight Brijpal Teotia, 54, was critically injured in the attack. The assailants attacked his SUV on Rawli Road off NH-58. Police said the number of attackers were four and they also used 9mm pistols. Five others were injured in the attack.

“The injured were initially admitted at a hospital in Ghaziabad from where, Teotia was referred to Fortis Hospital in Noida,” said Meerut zone Inspector General Surjeep Pandey.

The gunmen came in a Toyota Fortuner SUV, fired at the Scorpio SUV which Mr Teotia was travelling in and they escaped from the spot.

“Rifles, AK 47 have been used in the attack. A manhunt is on for the culprits. Weapons used in the attack have been recovered,” said Daljeet Chaudhary, Additional Director General of Police Law and Order.

Minister of State Mahesh Sharma, who met the injured leader, said, “His life is in danger. He has been taken to operation theatre.”

“Teotia was coming from Murad Nagar to Ghaziabad when the miscreants caught up his SUV from both sides. They then opened indiscriminate fire and fled the spot,” said superintendent of police (rural), Rakesh Kumar Pandey. Teotia had contested the 2012 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election.