PATNA, Nov. 3 -- A robber, involved in multiple cases including, Anil Jewellers robbery case worth Rs.2.5 crore of Samastipur, was shot in the leg during an encounter with the STF and Vaishali police at Marmala Chaur falling under the Sadar Police Station area of Vaishali district, police said on Monday. The accused, identified as Rajnandan alias Chhotu known as Hunter, a native of Digghi Kala (Hajipur), is said to have opened fire when intercepted late on Sunday night, leading to retaliatory gunfire that injured his right leg. Police rushed him to Sadar hospital where he is undergoing treatment. Vaishali police claimed it had received information that Chhotu, a notorious criminal who had fled from the Samastipur Court in 2025, was hiding near Marmala Chaur outskirts of his village and planning to commit a major crime. On getting information a joint police team of STF and Vaishali police led by Sadar SDPO Subodh Kumar surrounded the area and warned him to surrender before the police but the criminal is said to have opened fire. Vaishali SP Shubhank Mishra arrived on the spot and inspected the area. The FSL team was also called, and they have collected evidence from the spot. "Chhotu faces over 17 criminal cases registered in Vaishali and Samastipur involving looting and the Arms Act. Police also recovered weapons from the crime spot," said the SP. Police said on November 23, 2024 unidentified armed criminals robbed Anil Jewellers, located on Old Post Office Road under Town Police Station area, around 6.30 pm. They looted gold jewellery worth crores. The incident took place when Anil Jewellers owner Anil Thakur was preparing to close his shop. Rajnandan alias Chhotu arrested on January 9, 2025. Later on May 28, 2025 four prisoners including Chhotu, Arvind Sahni, Manish Kumar and Manjit Kumar fled from the court premises in Samastipur, during produced before a court. The fifth prisoner Narendra Kumar also escaped but was apprehended by the police after being chased. According to director general (Operation) Kundan Krishnan, notorious criminal Chhotu Ram alias Hunter carrying a reward of Rs 25,000 on his head. STF recovered a 7.65mm pistol, three live cartridges, two empty cartridges and a motorcycle from the spot. During interrogation, he revealed that he also visited the Tanishk showroom in Gaya about three days ago to carry out a robbery, with other accomplices....