Mumbai, October 31:
A tense situation unfolded in Mumbai’s Powai area on Thursday when a man took 17 children hostage inside a theatre studio. What began as a supposed audition for a web series turned into a frightening three-hour ordeal — one that ended only after the heroic action of Assistant Sub-Inspector Amol Waghmare, who shot the accused dead and saved all the children.
According to police, the accused, Rohit Arya, a Pune-based filmmaker and self-proclaimed activist, had rented out RA Studio in Mahavir Classic, Powai, claiming he was conducting child auditions. But once the kids arrived, Arya reportedly locked them inside along with three of his assistants and disabled the exits using alarm sensors to prevent anyone from entering.
By early afternoon, parents waiting outside began to panic when their children didn’t return. Soon, locals noticed the kids crying behind glass windows and alerted the police.
When officers reached the spot, Arya allegedly threatened to set the studio on fire using a chemical spray if anyone tried to intervene. He also recorded a video claiming he only wanted to “talk to authorities” over unpaid dues from a government project.
As the standoff grew, Quick Response Teams, bomb squads, and local police launched a coordinated plan with help from the fire brigade. Two teams climbed through the building’s duct line, cutting through a glass wall to reach the trapped children.
During the final moments of the rescue, Arya allegedly rushed toward the officers — forcing ASI Amol Waghmare to make a split-second call. Acting on instinct and training, he fired a single bullet that struck Arya in the chest. The accused was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
Officials later confirmed that the decision to shoot wasn’t part of the original plan but was made “on the spot” to ensure the safety of the children. All 17 hostages were rescued unharmed.
Waghmare, described by colleagues as a calm and disciplined officer, has since been praised across the force and social media for his courage and precision under pressure.
Senior police officials have called his action a “life-saving decision,” emphasizing that in such situations, “every second counts.”
What could have ended in tragedy instead became a story of quick thinking, teamwork, and bravery — a reminder that sometimes, one officer’s courage can change the fate of many.
