In a shocking incident, a man held 17 children and two adults hostage at RA Studio in Mumbai’s Powai area on Thursday October 30, who were finally rescued by the police. The accused Rohit Arya who was arrested and declared mentally unstable, later died after being injured in an exchange of gunfight with police.
Arya had lured the children to the studio under the pretence of an audition. The rescued children have been handed over to their parents.
The accused had shared a video message before the incident, where he threatened to set the place on fire if any “wrong move” is made. Claiming that he is not a terrorist, the accused further said that he has taken children and adults as hostage instead of dying by suicide.
In a statement, Mumbai Police said, “All the children are safe and handed to their guardians. Other details will be shared asap after due verification.”
Joint Commissioner of Police (L&O) Satyanarayan Chaudhary said “prima facie the motive behind the hostage was done by the suspect over some work related dues pending”.
Accused made simple moral and ethical demands in live video
The incident began when Arya locked the children inside the studio and live-streamed a video on social media. In the video, he stated he wanted to speak with certain people, making what he called “moral and ethical” demands but specifying that he did not want money. He also threatened to set the studio on fire if his demands were not met.
“I am Rohit Arya. Instead of dying by suicide, I have made a plan and am holding some children hostage here,” he said, listing what he described as “simple demands, moral demands, ethical demands, and a few questions.” He warned that “the slightest wrong move from you will trigger me” and threatened to set the place on fire, adding that he did not seek money and was “not a terrorist”.
“I want simple conversations, and that’s why I’ve taken these children hostage. I’ve held them hostage as part of a plan. If I live, I’ll do it; if I die, someone else will, but it will definitely happen because the slightest wrong move from you will trigger me to set this whole place on fire and die in it,” Arya said in the video.
Mumbai Police rescue children, find air gun, chemicals at location, probe on
Police received a distress call around 1:45 PM on Thursday soon after which a joint operation by the Mumbai Police and the Fire Brigade was launched. Negotiators initially tried to engage with Arya, but when those efforts failed, a special unit forced entry into the studio through a bathroom. All 19 hostages were safely rescued after about two hours. Mumbai Police arrested Rohit Arya and seized an air gun and some chemicals from the studio.
Police said they mounted a rapid response after the video circulated and managed to secure the children shortly after they were held hostage. All of those taken were removed from the location. Officials are investigating the motive behind the act and if any other person or gang is involved. The accused who is allegedly mentally unstable, has been taken to hospital for medical examination.