UP Hostage Crisis: All 23 Children Rescued, Captor Shot Dead

The incident took place on Thursday evening in Farukkhabad when Subhash Batham, accused in a criminal case, invited about 20 local children to his house for a party and then locked them in

Photo: ANI

Farrukhabad: Uttar Pradesh police on late Thursday night rescued all 23 children who had been held captive by a man with criminal background, after over nine hours of hostage crisis at a village in Farrukhabad district in Uttar Pradesh. ADG UP Ramashastry confirmed that the hostage-taker, identified as Subhash Batham, was shot dead in the encounter with police. The man's wife died on Thursday night while trying to escape but was thrashed by the locals on the spot, IG Kanpur Mohit Agarwal told PTI. He said she was rushed to a hospital as she was bleeding from a wound on her head but she succumbed to injuries. The incident took place on Thursday evening in Farukkhabad when Subhash Batham, accused in a criminal case, invited about 20 local children to his house for a party and then locked them in. Home Secretary Avneesh Awasthi said: "IG, Kanpur Range, Mohit Agarwal, with support from the quick response team, special operation group and Anti-Terrorism Squad of the UP police, spearheaded the operation, finally ending the nine-hours long stand off." When some local people tried to get the door opened, he started firing from inside in which one person injured his leg. Batham even hurled a low intensity bomb from the window of his house. He allegedly shouted that he had been wrongly framed in a criminal case. UP Director General of Police (DGP) O.P. Singh told reporters that the police were acting with caution to ensure the safety of the children locked inside. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had called a high level meeting over the incident. Chief Secy, Principal Secy (Home), DGP, ADGP Law & Order were present. Adityanath also talked to the DM & SP. The police also called in Batham's relatives and local village leaders. A huge crowd had gathered at the spot comprising mainly parents of the children who had been held hostage. Parents heaved a sigh of relief as all the 23 children were rescued from Batham's custody safely.