Mumbai Hostage Crisis: Rohit Arya Dies After Police Shootout During Rescue of 17 Children from Film Studio
New Delhi. In a shocking incident that gripped Mumbai on Thursday, Rohit Arya, who had held 17 children hostage inside a small film studio, has died after being shot in police retaliation during a tense rescue operation. Officials confirmed that Arya succumbed to his injuries at the hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
All 17 Children Rescued Safely
According to Mumbai Police, the incident occurred inside RA Studio, located in the Powai area, where Arya allegedly lured children under the pretext of auditions for acting roles. The hostages, aged between 8 and 14 years, were trapped inside the studio for several hours before being rescued unharmed.
A police team from Powai Police Station received an emergency call at around 1:45 PM and reached the location immediately. Negotiators attempted to persuade Arya to release the children, but he refused to cooperate and allegedly threatened to harm them.
When talks failed, the police stormed the bathroom area where the children were being held. In a swift operation, all 17 children were safely rescued while Arya was shot and critically injured during the confrontation.
Hostage-Taker Posted a Video Message
Before the rescue, Arya posted a video message online, claiming,
“I am not a terrorist, nor am I asking for money. I just want to talk to some people.”
He added that he had been “forced to commit suicide” but decided instead to use the hostage situation as a way to reach certain individuals he wanted to communicate with.
Authorities are examining the video to determine his motive and whether any personal or professional grievances were involved.
Police: Hostage Plan Was Pre-Planned
Investigations suggest that Rohit Arya’s actions were carefully pre-planned. The RA Studio, known locally for conducting acting and film auditions, had been active for several days.
A senior police officer revealed,
“Arya had been conducting auditions for the past four or five days. Today, he allowed about 80 children to leave after their auditions but asked around 20 to stay back. That’s when the situation turned into a hostage crisis.”
The officer added that the suspect’s behavior seemed calculated and deliberate, indicating prior intent to carry out the hostage drama.
Background and Aftermath
The Mumbai Police’s quick response and crisis management prevented a potential tragedy. All rescued children were immediately taken for medical evaluation and were later reunited with their families.
The crime scene at RA Studio has been sealed as forensic teams gather evidence. Investigators are now trying to trace Arya’s background, mental health condition, and motive behind the shocking act that left Mumbai stunned.
The Mumbai hostage crisis ended with the safe rescue of 17 children and the death of the accused, Rohit Arya. While police prevented a major tragedy, the case has raised serious concerns about security at private studios and children’s safety during auditions. Authorities are continuing their probe to uncover what pushed Arya to commit this alarming act.
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