Seventeen children, a senior citizen, and another civilian were held hostage in broad daylight on Thursday at a studio in Mumbai’s Powai area, triggering panic and a massive police response. The police managed to rescue all the children shortly after they were held hostage and the kidnapper has been arrested.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Datta Nalawade said that cops recovered air guns and chemicals at the scene and said the suspect had been alone. Officers entered the premises through a bathroom after forcing entry.
Witnesses had earlier said several children were seen peeking out through the studio’s glass windows.
The incident took place at RA Studio, where acting classes are regularly held. According to preliminary information, the man who took the children hostage has been identified as Rohit Arya, an employee at the studio who also runs a YouTube channel.
For the past four to five days, Rohit had reportedly been conducting auditions at the premises. On Thursday morning, when nearly 100 children arrived for auditions, he allowed around 80 to leave but kept 15 to 20 children confined inside.
In a video message released by the suspect, who identified himself as Rohit Arya, he said he had “made a plan” and taken the children hostage to force conversations with certain people. Paraphrasing his remarks, he said he did not have large financial demands and insisted his demands were “moral” and “ethical.”
He said he wanted to ask questions and receive answers, and added that he did not see himself as a terrorist. He also warned that any aggressive move could provoke him, and urged authorities and others “not to trigger” him.
"The reason I have taken these children hostage is that I took them hostage as part of a plan... I was really going to do it; I am going to do it if I remain alive. If I die, someone else will do it, but it will definitely happen and it will be with these very children. If they are not harmed, because a slightest wrong move from your end will trigger me to set this entire place on fire and die in it. Whether I die or not, the children will be unnecessarily hurt — they will definitely be traumatised — something will come of that, so I don’t want to be counted as responsible for that; let those people be counted responsible who are unnecessarily triggering this, while a normal common person only wants to talk. After my talks are over, I will come out myself. I am not alone; there are other people with me. Many people have these problems and I am going to provide a solution — just by talking. Please do not trigger me to do any harm to anybody," Arya said in the video.
The Mumbai Police said they are talking to the accused and trying to find out why he took such a step. The Mumbai Police added that all the children are safe and handed to their guardians.
