Ghaziabad, Aug 25 - Half a dozen armed criminals opened fire on two members of a rival gang who were being taken to a local court in police custody Tuesday, officials said. One of the two sustained bullet injuries.

The shooting occurred Tuesday morning in Hapur town under Hapur Kotwali police station in Ghaziabad, police said.

The police were taking two members of the Vedu gang - Ajay alias Pintu and Chandravir alias Chandu - to Amroha to be presented before a local court.

The policemen along with Ajay and Chandravir were riding a cycle rickshaw to the station to catch the train to Amroha when half a dozen armed man threw chilly powder at them and opened fire, police said.

The police, however, immediately returned fire but the criminals managed to get away. Ajay sustained a bullet injury and was rushed to the hospital where his condition was said to be critical, police added.

'We have registered a criminal case against unidentified criminals and the policemen are being rewarded suitably,' Superintendent of Police (Rural) K.K. Asthana said.