Man takes 20 children hostage in UP’s Farukkabad, police trying to handle the situation

As per reports coming in from Kathria village of Mohammadabad in Farukkabad, a person has taken 20 children hostage in his house after he invited them home on the pretext of his daughter’s birthday party. He has allegedly opened fire, demanding that UP Police representatives and villagers should negotiate with him.

Subhash Batham also allegedly opened fire once the villagers called the cops. There has allegedly been an explosion where he threw some kind of an explosive which apparently injured a policeman. Another villager was shot in the leg.

Local officials and politicians are trying to diffuse the situation. Special police teams including anti-terror force have reached the spot. Villagers said the man is not of sound mental health. He has been accused of killing another villager in 2001 and is out on bail. Around four months back, he was arrested again on charges of theft.

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.

"A special team of trained personnel is at the spot and we have kept NSG commandos on standby. Our priority is to ensure the safety of the children and rescue them at the earliest. It is a difficult situation and all senior police officers are at the spot. We want to rescue the children without any collateral damage. The local legislator, Nagendra Singh, is also trying to talk to the man," he said.