December 4, 2002	Wednesday	Ramazan 28,1423

NEW DELHI, Dec 3: Gunmen shot and wounded a prominent Hindu rightwing leader on Tuesday in Gujarat, where political groups are entangled in a bitter poll campaign.

The Press Trust of India identified the victim as Jaydeep Patel, the firebrand general secretary of the regional chapter of the hardline Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

Two unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle fired at close range at Patel in Ahmedabad, the commercial capital of the western state, and seriously injured the politician.

Patel, joint general secretary of the state chapter of the VHP, is one of the key people named as provoking anti-Muslim riots that erupted across Gujarat in February. The police said security had been stepped up as a precaution in Ahmedabad.—AFP