Mumbai experienced a tense hostage situation on Thursday, marking a significant incident involving children. Police successfully resolved a nearly three-hour standoff, rescuing 17 children and two adults held captive at a studio in Powai. The hostage-taker, identified as 50-year-old Rohit Arya, died from a bullet wound during the police operation. The children, aged between 10 and 12, were at the studio for auditions for a web series that had been ongoing for two days.

This incident is notable as it is one of the first times in recent years that a large group of children has been taken hostage in Mumbai. The Powai police received the alert around 1:30 PM, leading to a swift response.

Mumbai has a history of hostage situations that have tested police capabilities. In March 2010, a retired customs officer, Harish Marolia, took a 14-year-old girl hostage in Andheri after a dispute with his housing society. The situation ended tragically when Marolia killed the girl and was subsequently shot by police.

Another significant case occurred in November 2008 when a 25-year-old gunman, Rahul Raj, held bus passengers hostage. He was shot dead by police after threatening to kill a political leader.

Shailni Sharma, Assistant Commissioner of Police, emphasized the importance of saving lives during hostage situations. She stated, "In hostage situations, the most important thing is to save the life and ensure minimum damage. Negotiations are done keeping these two objectives in mind." Sharma, who has trained in handling hostage crises, noted that when negotiations stall, the operation team must make timely decisions.

Sharma has been involved in various critical situations, including saving individuals from suicide attempts and managing protests through dialogue. Her experience highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement in high-stress scenarios.