Hostage Drama in Powai: 17 Children, Staffer, and Elderly Woman Held Captive

Strategic Insights -

A 45-year-old documentary filmmaker, Rohit Aarrya, held 17 children, aged 12-15, a 75-year-old woman, and his staffer hostage for two hours at a recording studio in Powai, Mumbai. Aarrya, who had been living in a relative's flat in Chembur, released a video saying he wanted "simple answers" to some questions and threatened to set the place ablaze if there was any move made to challenge him. The crisis ended after a police commando team stormed the studio, and Aarrya was shot in the chest, allegedly in self-defense, after he fired an air gun. The death has prompted calls for a magisterial inquiry to verify the claim of retaliatory police firing.

Key Takeaways:

  • Aarrya held 17 children, aged 12-15, a 75-year-old woman, and his staffer hostage for two hours at a recording studio in Powai.
  • The hostages were released after a police commando team stormed the studio, and Aarrya was shot in the chest.
  • The police commissioner, Deven Bharti, maintained that Aarrya fired first at the police, prompting retaliatory police firing.
  • The safety of the hostages was the top priority, and the police team's response was measured and as per the protocol.
  • Aarrya had sat on a hunger strike against former school education minister Deepak Kesarkar in 2024 over alleged dues of Rs 2 crore for a state-sanctioned school cleanliness project.
  • The city crime branch took over the probe, and those rescued were taken to Seven Hills hospital for medical examination.
  • The elderly woman, Mangal Patankar, sustained injury to her head and a deep cut on her arm and was admitted to a private hospital in Powai.

Statistics:

  • 17 children (aged 12-15) were held hostage.
  • 1 elderly woman (75 years old) was held hostage.
  • 1 staffer was held hostage.
  • 1 police commando team stormed the studio.
  • 1 air gun was recovered from the studio.
  • 1 unidentified chemical was recovered from the studio.
  • Rs 2 crore was the alleged dues for a state-sanctioned school cleanliness project.

Sources:

  • Tribune News Network (TNN)

"Bollywood News, Entertainment News, Hindi Film Reviews and Movie News at Times of India" - Mumbai, Thursday, 09:04 PM IST (09:04 PM).

(PRESS TRUST OF INDIA)