Mumbai hostage drama: Why did Rohit Arya took children hostage at Powai Studio
PTC Web Desk: Panic gripped Mumbai’s Powai area on Thursday after a man identified as Rohit Arya held nearly 20 persons, including children, hostage inside RA Studio, triggering a massive joint operation by the Mumbai Police and Fire Brigade that lasted for about an hour.
According to officials, all children were safely rescued, while the accused, who appeared to be mentally unstable, sustained critical injuries during the operation. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was later succumbed to his injuries.
Senior Inspector Jeevan Sonawane of Powai Police confirmed that none of the hostages were harmed and all were later reunited with their parents. “The suspect was apprehended following a successful rescue operation. Investigations are underway to verify his background and motives,” he said.
During the standoff, Rohit Arya reportedly released a video message in which he demanded to speak to specific persons, including former Maharashtra Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar, alleging grievances with the education department. In the same video, he warned that he would “set the place on fire and harm himself and the children” if his demands were ignored.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Satyanarayan said approximately 20 persons, including several children and a few adults, were inside the studio when Arya locked the premises. “He was seen holding an object resembling a gun, which caused panic. Our teams acted swiftly and coordinated the rescue mission efficiently,” he stated.
The Mumbai Fire Brigade received an alert from the police around 3 pm and immediately deployed its team. Station Officer Abhijit Sonawane said, “We cut open the window grills using hydraulic equipment to allow police access inside. The operation concluded with all hostages brought to safety.”
Preliminary investigations revealed that Arya, who operated a YouTube channel and was associated with RA Studio, had invited the children for what he described as an ‘audition.’ Eyewitnesses said they saw terrified children looking out from the studio’s glass windows during the ordeal.
The police are now examining Arya’s mental health records and personal circumstances to determine what drove him to such a drastic act.
- With inputs from agencies
