Powai hostage case: The man accused of holding 17 children hostage in Mumbai’s Powai area has died after being injured in a gunfire exchange with police on Thursday evening.
Police identified the suspect as Rohit Arya, who allegedly opened fire using an air gun when officers tried to rescue the children. Officers responded with one round of return fire, hitting Arya, who later succumbed to his injuries during treatment at a nearby hospital.
The incident unfolded inside RA Studios, a small film studio in Powai, where Arya had reportedly lured children aged 8 to 14 under the pretext of an “audition.”
Police said Arya held the children hostage for several hours before officers executed a carefully coordinated rescue.
“We received a distress call around 1:45 pm and reached the spot immediately. Negotiations began, but the accused refused to release the children,” said a senior Powai Police officer.
When Arya allegedly threatened to harm the children, the police team breached the studio through a bathroom and secured all 17 children unharmed.
‘Instead of Dying by Suicide’: Arya’s Final Video
Before the confrontation, Rohit Arya reportedly uploaded a video message explaining his motives. In it, he said he had chosen hostage-taking “instead of dying by suicide” and wanted to protest what he described as “systemic betrayal.”
“I am Rohit Arya. Instead of dying by suicide, I have made a plan and am holding some children hostage here,” he said in the clip, claiming he wanted “simple conversations, moral demands, and ethical accountability.”
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Arya also stressed that he was “not a terrorist” and did not demand money.
He warned in the video that “the slightest wrong move” would lead him to “set the place on fire.” Police later recovered an air gun and chemical containers from the studio, which investigators believe he used to threaten officers.
Children Safe, Investigation Underway
All 17 children were safely reunited with their families following the rescue operation.
Senior officials said the Mumbai Police Crime Branch has taken over the investigation to determine Arya’s mental state, background, and any potential grievances behind his actions.
“Our priority was the children’s safety. The situation was extremely volatile, but our team acted with precision,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone X).
Authorities are also examining Arya’s social media posts and videos, which allegedly detail his frustrations with the system and feelings of betrayal by certain individuals.
