A man who held 17 children hostage inside a dubbing studio in Mumbai’s Powai area on Thursday was shot by police and later died in hospital, bringing a tense two-hour standoff to a dramatic end.
The accused had stormed into RA Studios in the Chandivali area around noon, where children aged between 6 and 14 years were attending a recording session. He locked the premises from inside, refusing to release the children.
Arya later uploaded a video declaring, “Instead of dying by suicide, I have made a plan and am holding some children hostage here.” He claimed he wasn’t after money but had “moral and ethical demands,” insisting he was not a terrorist.
Police received a distress call around 1:45 pm and quickly launched a rescue operation involving the Powai Police, Crime Branch, and Quick Response Team (QRT). Negotiations were attempted, but Arya allegedly threatened to set the studio ablaze and later fired at officers. Police returned fire, wounding him. He was taken to hospital, where he succumbed to bullet injuries.
All 17 children were safely rescued and reunited with their families, none sustaining injuries. Police recovered an air gun and chemical cylinders from the site. Investigators are probing Arya’s motive and whether mental instability played a role. The incident has sparked concern over safety protocols at private studios hosting minors for auditions and shoots.
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