Patna: A wanted criminal was injured in an exchange of fire with a joint team of Vaishali Police and the Special Task Force (STF) in Marmala Chaur, under the Hajipur Sadar police station area, on Sunday night.
The accused, identified as Raj Nandan Kumar alias Chhotu, sustained a bullet injury to his right leg after allegedly opening fire at the police team during a raid. The police retaliated in self-defence, hitting him in the leg.
He was taken into custody and admitted to Hajipur Sadar Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment under police security.
According to police sources, Chhotu, a resident of Digghi Kala in the Sadar police station area, is named in around 17 serious criminal cases, including robbery and offences under the Arms Act. He was allegedly active in Vaishali and Samastipur districts.
Accused In Samastipur Jewellers Robbery
Police sources said Chhotu is the prime suspect in the robbery at Anil Jewellers in Samastipur district.
In 2025, he allegedly escaped from police custody while being produced before a court in Samastipur. Since then, Vaishali Police and the STF had been searching for him.
The police also recovered a weapon from the encounter site.
Police Acted On Tip-Off
According to the police, they had received information that Chhotu was hiding in the Marmala Chaur area near his village and was allegedly planning to commit a major crime on Sunday night.
Acting on the tip-off, a joint team comprising STF personnel and officers from Hajipur Sadar police station cordoned off the area. The operation was led by Sadar SDPO-1 Subodh Kumar.
Police said the accused opened fire after finding himself surrounded, prompting the team to retaliate.
Following the encounter, Vaishali SSP Shubhank Mishra and Sadar SDPO-1 Subodh Kumar reached the spot to inspect the scene. A Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team also collected evidence from the location.
