Mumbai audition turns hostage crisis: 20 kids rescued, man arrested

Mumbai(The Uttam Hindu):  A sensational incident occurred in Mumbai's Powai area, where approximately 15-20 children were allegedly held hostage in a room during auditions at RA Studios. Acting on reports from locals, police arrived at the scene, rescued the children safely, and took the accused into custody.

According to police and nearby residents, auditions had been going on at the studio for the past four or five days. Hundreds of children arrived in the morning, some of whom were turned away and others kept inside. The children locked inside began peeking out the window, which aroused local suspicion and they informed the police. Upon arrival, the children were released one by one and the studio owner and manager were questioned. Initial statements indicated that a young man named Rohit Arya had held some of the children hostage. The accused also released a video on social media, expressing his demands and questions—though police say the man appeared mentally unstable, and the investigation into the matter is ongoing.

Mumbai Police stated that all children were recovered safely and no one was physically injured. The accused has been detained and is being interrogated to determine why he acted this way and whether there was any organized motive behind it. Police have urged local residents to maintain peace and avoid rumors on media and social media. District officials stated that before his arrest, the accused claimed in a video that he wanted to "question some people" and that he took this step to attract attention, not suicide. Investigating officers are thoroughly investigating the authenticity of the video and his motives.