Mumbai, India – A tense hostage situation in Mumbai's Powai area came to a head Thursday afternoon when police successfully rescued 17 children and two adults from a studio, but not before fatally shooting the hostage-taker. The incident occurred at R.A. Studio, located in the Mahavir Classik building.
The hostage-taker, identified as 50-year-old Rohit Arya, had allegedly lured the children, aged between 10 and 17, to the studio under the guise of auditions for a web series or ad shoot. Once inside, Arya locked them in a room and threatened to harm them and himself if his demands were not met.
News of the hostage situation prompted a swift response from the Mumbai Police, including senior officers and a Quick Response Team (QRT). Police cordoned off the area and initiated negotiations with Arya, who was reportedly streaming videos online, claiming his demands were "moral" and "ethical". In the video, Arya stated he wished to speak to certain people and warned he would "set everything on fire" if he was not allowed to.
According to reports, Arya had been seeking payment of dues for work done for the Swachhta Monitor Project under the Chief Minister's 'My School, Beautiful School' campaign. He claimed the government had not paid his firm for the work and had previously held protests in Pune, Mumbai, and Nagpur. Police sources indicated that preliminary investigations suggest Arya staged the hostage drama to draw attention to his dispute over unpaid government work.
As negotiations stalled, police decided to take decisive action. A team of officers, including QRT commandos, gained entry into the studio, reportedly through a bathroom passage to maintain the element of surprise. A police inspector forced entry into the studio. During the rescue operation, Arya allegedly attempted to open fire, prompting police to retaliate. A bullet struck Arya in the chest, and he was rushed to a hospital where he was declared dead. A senior citizen was also hurt during the crossfire and was taken to Balasaheb Thackeray Trauma Hospital for treatment.
Joint Commissioner of Police Satyanarayan Choudhary confirmed that all 17 children were safely rescued. The children, who had come from different parts of Maharashtra, were handed over to their parents and guardians after medical check-ups. Police seized an air gun, chemicals, and a lighter from the studio, which Arya allegedly used to intimidate the hostages and officers. Forensic teams are examining the seized materials.
A senior police officer described the confrontation as "swift but risky," and credited the team's quick action for preventing a greater tragedy. The police have registered a case and are investigating Arya's mental state and online activities to determine if the act was premeditated or part of a larger plan.
