Twenty-five people, including a female police constable, have been detained for interrogation in connection with the attack on BJP leader Brijpal Teotia in Ghaziabad on Thursday night.
Twenty-five people, including a female police constable, have been detained for interrogation in connection with the attack on BJP leader Brijpal Teotia in Ghaziabad on Thursday night.
He was driving back from Muradnagar, 45 km from Ghaziabad, after a family function when he was attacked.
Mr Teotia is known to be close to Union home minister Rajnath Singh.
Mr Teotia, who has undergone three surgeries at the Fortis Hospital and whose condition remains critical, was attacked by armed assailants who fired more than 100 rounds on his car.
The BJP leader received six gunshot injuries in his waist and hands. Five others, including his private gunners, who were injured in the attack, are also in a critical condition.
ADG (law and order) Daljit Chaudhary told reporters before leaving for Ghaziabad on Friday that the Fortunner car used in the attack had been seized about six kilometres away from the site of the incident. The vehicle reportedly belongs to a private company in Gurgaon. An AK 47 rifle, a carbine and two pistols have also been found.
The STF, which is investigating the case, has hinted that political rivalry could be the reason behind the attack.
Mr Teotia had contested the 2012 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election from Muradnagar constituency, but he lost by a margin of over 5,000 votes. The BJP leader was hopeful of getting a poll ticket again this time.
The BJP leader was allegedly involved in the murder of a police constable named Suresh Diwan and also went to jail in the case. Later, he was involved in an enmity with gangster Rakesh Hassanpuria who was close to the constable. When the gangster was killed in a police encounter, Brijpal Teotia was again accused of having a role in the killing.
