What Happened in Mumbai's Hostage Drama? 20 Children Rescued!
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 20 children were held hostage in a studio.
- The perpetrator was shot dead by police.
- The weapon used was an air gun.
- The incident raised concerns about mental health.
- All hostages were rescued safely.
Mumbai, Oct 30 (NationPress) In a shocking turn of events, a social media channel proprietor was shot dead by Mumbai Police during a hostage crisis he orchestrated with an air gun, holding 20 children captive at R A Studio located in Powai on Thursday, according to police reports.
Rohit Arya succumbed to severe bleeding while being transported to the hospital after law enforcement stormed the location where he had confined the children for approximately 30 minutes under the guise of conducting an audition, the authorities stated.
Following the hostage situation, Arya released a video aimed at coercing certain individuals to communicate with him, threatening to ignite the studio and harm the hostages if they failed to comply, according to police sources.
Prompted by the actions of some students who managed to signal help from the first floor where acting classes were held, Mumbai Police were alerted to the situation.
Senior police officials engaged Arya in negotiations, suspecting his mental instability, before storming the studio and disarming him, as confirmed by a police spokesperson.
It was later revealed that the weapon in question was merely an air gun, the police reported.
“All children have been successfully rescued and the perpetrator is now in police custody,” stated a senior police official.
The intense 30-minute hostage drama incited widespread panic in the Powai area, resulting in police cordoning off the studio and evacuating surrounding locations.
A Quick Reaction Team (QRT) was quickly deployed to the scene amid concerns of a potential terror threat.
In a video message shared following the hostage incident, Arya claimed, “I am not a terrorist… nor am I seeking financial gain. I simply wish to communicate with specific individuals.”
He further expressed feelings of desperation, stating he had been driven to contemplate suicide, but instead, he opted for this drastic approach to connect with those he wanted to reach.
The studio where this incident occurred is renowned for its acting classes, and Arya had initiated the ‘hostage scenario’ after approximately 100 children had arrived for auditions that morning, according to the police.
Sources indicate that Arya had been conducting auditions over the past week. “He released 80 audition participants today but insisted that about 20 children remain,” a police official suggested, pointing to the premeditated nature of his actions.