In a tense afternoon standoff in the Powai area of Mumbai, 50-year-old Rohit Arya held 17 children and two adults hostage inside a recording studio, claiming he only wanted “a conversation” with certain individuals. 

According to authorities, the children aged around 10-15 years had been called for auditions at the studio and instead found themselves locked inside by Arya. The incident began when parents grew worried after their children failed to return on time.

Arya recorded a chilling video statement in which he said, “I am not a terrorist, I don’t want money… I want simple conversation… instead of dying by suicide, I have made a plan and taken children hostage.” 

He also threatened that “the slightest wrong move will trigger me,” and that he had weapons in this case an air gun and possibly chemical containers to back up his threats. 

Negotiators from the Mumbai Police engaged him for about two hours. At one point, he appeared calm but refused to cooperate or release hostages even after being told that one of the children had a serious medical condition (seizures). 

Ultimately, police entered and shot Arya, who later died in hospital. All the children were rescued safely and no hostages were harmed, though legal experts are now calling for a full inquiry into the police action and the circumstances that led to his death. 

Preliminary investigation reveals that Arya had been disputing unpaid dues related to a school-cleanliness campaign in Maharashtra. He alleged he was owed around Rs 2 crore and had earlier protested and gone on hunger strike. Officials, however, state no such contractual liability exists.

While the motive remains partially unclear and authorities are still piecing together the full chain of events the incident raises serious questions about child safety, the risk of amateur audition setups, mental-health interventions and how rapidly threats to many young lives can escalate.

In the end, it was a narrow escape for those children. But the ramifications are many: families shaken, studios under scrutiny, policing methods questioned, and a city once again reminded of how quickly normality can rupture.