Mumbai Horror: 16 Children, Woman Held Hostage in Powai Studio; Accused Shot Dead During Rescue

In a shocking incident in Mumbai’s Powai area, 16 children and a woman were briefly held hostage inside a studio on Thursday afternoon, triggering panic and a large-scale rescue operation by police and fire officials.

According to PTI, the three-hour standoff unfolded at RA Studio near the L&T building, where the victims had reportedly been called for a web series audition. Authorities received a distress call around 3 pm, after which the Mumbai Fire Brigade used hydraulic tools to cut open iron grills and help police gain entry into the building.

Rescue and Accused Identified

All 17 hostages were safely rescued by the Mumbai Police. The accused, identified as Rohit Arya, was shot dead during the operation. Police said Arya appeared to be mentally unstable and was carrying an air gun and some chemicals at the scene.

Possible Motive

Preliminary investigations suggest that Arya wanted to speak to former Maharashtra Education Minister Deepak Vasant Kesarkar over an unspecified issue. “He had certain grievances related to the department and wanted to talk to the minister,” said Jeevan Sonawane, Senior Police Inspector of Powai Police Station, in a statement to Hindustan Times.

Accused’s Video and Intent

A video released by Arya during the incident shows him stating that he had taken the children hostage as part of a “plan” to have a simple conversation with some people. He did not specify what his demands were or whom he wished to meet.

Authorities have confirmed that all children and the woman are safe, and further investigations are underway to determine the exact motive behind the terrifying episode.