Oct. 30 (UPI) — A hostage situation in India with scores of children ended safely after police shot the armed suspect.
On Thursday, about 17 children and two adults were safely rescued in the busy Powai neighborhood of Mumbai after a man claimed to be holding the group hostage at a local acting school during audition practices.
The suspect, who supposedly introduced himself as Rohit Arya, allegedly warned hostages that “the slightest wrong move will trigger me” as he threatened to set the building on fire.
Arya, a self-proclaimed filmmaker and blogger, was shot during the rescue operation and later died in a hospital, according to police officials.
Officers “used force” to enter the building via bathroom window after officers failed to first negotiate with the “adamant” hostage-taker as locals gathered outside.
Local officials added an airgun with an unspecified chemical was also found.
“We received information that the man was agitated and possibly carrying some chemical. The decision was made to force entry before he could act on his threats,” said a senior police official in India.
Meanwhile, Deputy Police Commissioner Datta Nalawade said officers were scanning the property.
But he did not provide further details.
