Panic swept through Mumbai’s Powai area on Thursday afternoon after a man, identified as Rohit Arya, took around 20 children hostage inside RA Studio, near the L&T building. The situation prompted a massive rescue operation by the Mumbai Police and Fire Brigade, lasting for nearly an hour.
According to officials, Arya, who appeared mentally unstable, threatened to set the studio on fire and harm himself and the children if his demands were not met. In a video released during the standoff, he claimed he only wanted to have “a simple conversation” with certain individuals, without specifying names or reasons.
Senior Inspector Jeevan Sonawane of Powai Police said that Arya had demanded to speak with former Maharashtra Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar, citing grievances with the department. “All the children were rescued safely and handed over to their guardians. Further details will be shared after verification,” he said.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Satyanarayan confirmed that the man was armed with what appeared to be a gun. The Mumbai Fire Brigade received an emergency call around 3 p.m. and rushed to the spot. “We used hydraulic tools to cut open the studio grills and made access for police to enter. All hostages were rescued safely,” said Station Officer Abhijit Sonawane.
During the rescue operation, Rohit Arya was shot dead by the police after he reportedly resisted and posed a threat to the hostages. Authorities are now verifying his background and possible motives behind the incident.
