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Mumbai: A man identified as Rohit Arya was shot dead by Mumbai Police on Thursday after he held nearly 20 children hostage inside a film studio in Powai. The victims, mostly teenagers aged around 15, were lured to RA Studio near the L&T building under the pretext of auditioning for a web series.
According to police, Arya locked the children inside the premises and began threatening to harm them and himself. Officers were called to the scene shortly before 3 PM and soon sought assistance from the fire brigade to break open the studio’s heavily secured entrance.
A video recorded before the incident showed Arya introducing himself and outlining his supposed motives. “I am Rohit Arya. Instead of dying by suicide, I’ve taken some children hostage. I have simple, moral demands. I am not a terrorist, and I don’t seek money,” he said in the clip.
Investigators later recovered an air gun and several chemical containers from the site. Forensic teams are analysing the materials, while police continue to probe Arya’s mental health and possible background.
Firefighters used hydraulic tools to cut through the grills, allowing police to storm the building and free the frightened youngsters after an hour-long standoff. All children were later reunited safely with their families.
Senior police inspector Jeevan Sonawane of Powai police station said Arya appeared to be mentally disturbed and had made incoherent demands. “He insisted on speaking with former Maharashtra education minister Deepak Kesarkar about certain departmental issues,” Sonawane said. “He also threatened to set the studio on fire using chemicals and harm the children if his demands weren’t met.”
Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Satyanarayanan confirmed that Arya fired from what looked like an air gun, forcing officers to retaliate. “In response to his firing, one round was returned by the police. He sustained a gunshot wound and later died during treatment in hospital,” he said.
