The hostage drama that unfolded in Powai on Thursday afternoon ended with the death of the captor — and, according to the police, the decision to shoot him took just split seconds. A senior officer from the Powai police’s shootout team said, “Shooting him was never part of the plan. When we reached the spot, we realised all the kids and adults were being held hostage inside the studio. We sought help from local residents and security guards to map the layout since the main door was locked.”

The officer added, “We kept talking to Arya, agreeing to his demands to keep him calm. We then entered through the duct area up to the first floor and made our way into the studio. As soon as we entered, Arya rushed toward us. Our first priority was to save the children. One of our officers fired — it was a split-second decision. All hostages were rescued safely.”