Mumbai: Man holding 17 children hostage inside Powai studio shot dead by police

A man accused of holding 17 children and two adults hostage inside a studio in Mumbai's Powai on Thursday was shot dead by the police during a rescue operation, PTI reported.

All 19 persons were rescued.

An unidentified police officer told the news agency that the man, identified as Rohit Arya, was shot when he tried to harm the children with an air gun. He was taken to a hospital where he died, the officer added.

The incident took place at Ra Studio located at Mahavir Classik building in Powai when the children, about 15 years old, had come for an audition. Arya allegedly locked them inside.

Arya also recorded a video and released it on social media, in which he identified himself and said that he would like to talk to a few persons and ask them questions, The Indian Express reported.

It was not clear who Arya wanted to speak to.

He added that he did not want money, PTI reported. The Indian Express also quoted an unidentified police officer as saying that Arya, in the video, threatened to “set everything on fire” and harm himself and the children if he was not allowed to speak.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Datta Nalawade told PTI that the police had received a call at about 1.45 pm about a man holding children hostage inside the studio.

He said that police officers, along with personnel from the Quick Response Team, Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad and a fire brigade, arrived at the spot soon after.

Nalawade said that the police attempted to negotiate with Arya, PTI reported. However, a police team entered the studio through the bathroom when the talks made no headway, he said.

“It was a challenging operation, because we were negotiating with him without any positive outcome,” the news agency quoted the deputy commissioner of police as saying. “To save the children's lives was our priority.”

Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Satyanaranyan said that Arya had allegedly called the children for an audition for a web series.

Along with an air gun, Arya was carrying some chemicals, he added.

Source: Scroll
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