Mumbai: Rohit Arya, the man who took 17 children hostage at RA Studio in Powai, died at the hospital where he was admitted with an injury.
After a call reporting a hostage situation was received at Powai police station around 3 pm, a massive joint operation was launched by Mumbai Police and Fire department.
After entering the studio complex and making contact with the hostage taker, there was a stand-off between the cops and Arya. In the process, the accused was shot by the police during the rescue operation which lasted about 45 minutes.
All the children, along with two adults taken hostage were brought out safely, officials said. The children were handed over to their guardians, and the accused was nabbed and taken to hospital in critical condition. About an hour later, Arya succumbed to his injuries.
Police first tried to negotiate with Arya, but he stuck to his demands about his “ethical demands” and a conversation with some authorities on specific issues. The talks failed, and police then entered the studio forcefully through a bathroom to reach the children, DCP Dutta Nalawade (Zone 10) told the media.
Arya, who according to police could have been “mentally unstable”, set up a fake audition for web series. Around 100 children turned up, of whom 17 were taken inside, and held hostage as it turned out for an agonising period of approximately an hour.
Mumbai Police successfully managed to save all the children from being harmed.
