Mumbai: Panic gripped Mumbai’s Powai area on Thursday afternoon when over 20 children were held hostage inside RA Studio near the L&T building. The police and fire brigade launched a swift rescue operation, safely freeing all the children after nearly an hour of tension.
According to officials, the accused, identified as Rohit Arya, appeared to be mentally unstable. He had reportedly called boys and girls, all around 15 years old, for an alleged “audition” at the studio before locking them inside. During the ordeal, Arya posted a video on social media claiming he wanted to question certain people and warning that he would set the studio on fire if his demands were ignored.
Joint Commissioner of Police Satyanarayan confirmed that all the children were rescued unharmed. “All the children are safe,” he said, adding that the situation was brought under control through coordinated efforts between the police and fire services.
Arya was taken into custody from the scene and is undergoing interrogation. Police sources said a psychiatric evaluation will be conducted to assess his mental condition. Authorities are also investigating how he managed to lure the children and whether others were involved in planning the act.
The parents of the rescued children expressed relief and gratitude toward the police for their quick response. Officials said the children have been reunited with their families after being medically examined.
The police have registered a case and are examining Arya’s social media accounts and digital records to determine the motive behind the incident.
