According to eyewitnesses and others, Mehmood Zaheeruddin Pardewala (50) -- who is also the owner and editor of `Gujarat News Flash' -- arrived at the theatre in his car around 10:30 am. Soon after, four people arrived in a white Maruti 800 car (GJ 5 PP 5390), parked it outside the theatre main gate, and rushed to Pardewala's office and began firing indiscriminately.

While Pardewala received three bullets -- in the head, abdomen and leg his bodyguard Saiyyed Nizamuddin alias Munna (35) and door-keeper Mansingh Manbahadur (40) also received three bullets each.

The police have recovered nine used cartridges and two unused bullets from the spot and said that they were fired from .32 bore revolvers and 9 mm pistols, possibly of Chinese make. Eyewitnesses told the police that all the assailants were aged between 25 and 30, and wore either plain or check shirts and trousers. All had short hair.

According to eyewitnesses, even as the four were attempting to escape, a bystander attempted to stop them. One of the assailants held a revolver to his head and forced him to back off before the car sped off towards Sahara Darwaja.

Pardewala and the two others were rushed to the Maskati hospital and then to Mahavir hospital where doctors performed surgeries on all three. Sources told Express Newsline that the condition of Pardewla and his bodyguard Munna is still critical, and neither of the two are out of danger.

The attempt on the life of Pardewala, a Bahujan Samaj Party leader with a criminal record, is believed to be a contract `hit'. Informed sources suspect the Mumbai underworld.

Even as news of the shoot out spread in the city, hundreds of Pardewala's supporters thronged the Maskati hospital, while the Begumpura area where he lives remained tense throughout the afternoon. The police immediately stepped up presence in the area. All exit points out of the city and district too were being guarded, the police said. No culprit had been identified either by the police or by Pardewala until late evening, although informed sources said that enmity over a land deal could have led to the shootout. Top police officials have begun investigations into the case.