Mumbai hostage taker Rohit Arya succumbs to injury after shoot-out with police

The man accused of taking over 20 children hostage at RA Studio in Mumbai’s Powai area on Thursday, has died after being injured in an exchange of gunfire with Mumbai Police.

“Rohit Arya was killed in an encounter. He was shot by Mumbai Police during an operation to rescue children, in which he sustained critical injuries and later died in the hospital,” Mumbai Police told the news agency.

Mumbai saw a dramatic hostage situation in broad daylight on Thursday where a studio owner, Arya conducted auditions of nearly 100 children who arrived at the studio and he allowed around 80 to leave on Thursday. However, over 20 children around the age of around 15-year-old confined inside.

According to a video released by the accused, he had a “plan” with “moral” and “ethical” demands.

“I am Rohit Arya, instead of committing suicide, I have made a plan and held a few children as hostages. I don’t have many demands but they are moral and ethical. I have questions for a few people and ask some counter questions as well, but I need answers,” said Arya in the video.

Arya went on to say, “I am not a terrorist, I don’t want money, I just want simple conversations”.