Mumbai Hostage Crisis: 17 Children Rescued After Two-Hour Standoff with Armed Suspect

Mumbai:

A hostage crisis unfolded in Mumbai this afternoon, with the suspect distributing a video message claiming he had taken several children captive. The children, ranging in age from 8 to 14, were enticed to a Powai studio for an "audition" before being held hostage. In the video, the individual identified himself as Rohit Arya and requested responses to what he described as "simple, moral, and ethical" demands. The specific nature of these demands remains unclear.

Believed to be suffering from mental health issues, Arya also threatened to ignite the studio if there was the "slightest wrong move" by authorities.

The hostage situation persisted for approximately two hours until police forcibly entered the studio and apprehended Arya. Seventeen children were successfully rescued, according to police reports.

Arya subsequently died during an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement following his arrest.

The Chilling Video

In the video circulated earlier in the day, slightly longer than ninety seconds, Arya stated that rather than taking his own life, he was holding children hostage and wished to engage in conversation with "some people."

"I don't have many demands; I have very simple demands, moral demands, ethical demands, and a few questions. I want to talk to some people, ask them questions, and if I have counter-questions to their answers, I want to ask them back. But I want these answers. I don't want anything else. I'm not a terrorist, nor do I demand a lot of money, and I certainly don't want anything immoral," he declared in the video.

Meanwhile, as police orchestrated a swift response to free the children, several hands were visible near the window of the studio building where the hostage situation was occurring.

Arya revealed he had taken the children hostage as part of a calculated plan. "I want simple conversations, and that's why I've taken these children hostage. I've held them hostage as part of a plan. If I live, I'll do it; if I die, someone else will, but it will definitely happen. It will happen to these children if they don't suffer any harm."

He also cautioned that the "slightest wrong move" by law enforcement would provoke him, and he should not be held accountable for any subsequent events.

"The slightest wrong move from you will trigger me to set this whole place on fire and die in it. Whether I die or not, the children will be unnecessarily hurt and traumatised. If something happens to them, I shouldn't be held responsible for it; those who are unnecessarily triggering him should be held responsible, while a normal person just wants to talk," he stated.

"I am going to provide a solution just by talking. Please don't trigger me to do any harm to anyone," he added.

Arya indicated he would exit after completing the conversation. He also alleged there were others with him facing the same "problem." However, police later confirmed he was acting alone.

The crime scene is being thoroughly examined for additional evidence regarding the cause of the hostage situation. Police have already discovered an air gun and chemical residues at the location.