A notorious gangster, Amit Jha, and his six associates were arrested after an encounter with the police in Saharsa district, 240km northeast of Patna, on Friday.

Acting on a tip-off, a police team led by Nauhatta police station house officer (SHO) Darvesh Kumar raided the house of Babua Jha at Bangaon village and nabbed Amit, wanted in over a dozen cases of murder, extortion and loot.

On seeing the police, Amit fired from a carbine. SHO Darvesh had a miraculous escape. When the police retaliated, one of the bullets hit Amit whom the police later over-powered. He was rushed to Saharsa sadar hospital and then shifted to Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital.

Six aides of Amit, who were hiding in Babua's house, also surrendered. The police seized a carbine, a country-made pistol, 29 live cartridges and seven cellphones from them. Saharsa sub-divisional officer Subodh Kumar Biswan said at least nine cases of murder, loot and dacoity were pending against Amit, who had unleashed a reign of terror in the Kosi belt. His name had also figured in connection with the murder of a mukhiya and a bid to loot Rs 21 lakh from a bank last month.

Those arrested have been identified as Amit Ranjan, Gautam Nath Jha, Mohammad Kausar, Akhlaq, Rahul Jha and Rakhwala Pandey. The gang had killed Neeraj Kumar Singh, a bank employee, when they failed to loot Rs 20 lakh on March 23. The role of Amit's gang came under the scanner after the latter procured CCTV footage from a shop in Maroofganj area of the district headquarters town.