Powai hostage incident: The silent struggle of Rohit Arya

Beyond the headlines the story of Rohit Arya mdash looked at by some as the villain of the incident where 17 innocent children were held hostage in Powai mdash is one of tragedy where a troubled individual battled demons for months in silence often unnoticed by those around himCitybased psychiatrists mental health professionals and criminologists believe the real victims of this tragedy are not just those directly involved in the hostage situation but Aryarsquos wife and young son too For years they witnessed the anguish and despair of a man fighting an invisible battle with the system mdash one that slowly drained his spirit and led him down a dark pathDr Bharat Vatwani psychiatristThough Aryarsquos actions in his final moments were unforgivable his familyrsquos emotional and mental toll is immeasurable They were not just bystanders but the closest witnesses to a personal war one of isolation frustration and a profound sense of hopelessnessNow Aryarsquos wife and son must carry the burden of having watched a loved one spiral out of control Their journey of healing though different will be just as difficultUnseen victimsDr Bharat Vatwani a Magsaysay awardwinning psychiatrist said ldquoIt is tragic that the common man overlooks the impact of the death of Rohit Arya on his family members The weighing down by grief after the loss by possible guilt at not having been able to prevent the situation the financial jolt and ramifications the social ostracisation by virtue of being related to the hostagetaker and the overall feeling of loneliness loss and longing The family of Rohit Arya are the ones that need counselling support prayers and healing My heart goes out to themrdquoBeyond the headlinesDr Harish Shetty consulting psychiatrist at Dr LH Hiranandani Hospital said ldquoThe alleged individual appeared to be scheming aggressive and vague making unclear demands that suggest a lack of detailed planning or any clear objective He had no prior criminal history nor was there any evidence of ideological or religious indoctrination Notably he allowed over 80 children to leave which indicates he may not have had serious intent to cause harm According to the law minimum force should be used in such situations Tragically the person died leaving many unanswered questions that only he could have clarifiedrdquoDr Harish Shetty consulting psychiatrist at Dr LH Hiranandani HospitalldquoThe trauma experienced by the children as well as by Aryarsquos family needs urgent attention The silent suffering of the family largely ignored by the public must also be addressed Trauma has affected every stakeholder in this unfortunate event Empathy should be universal not selective Events like this often blind society causing authorities to lose objectivity Both Aryarsquos family and the children need closure and treatment or the trauma will continue to haunt them for life The stigma will destroy them and the only way to heal is through counselling and an understanding of the factsrdquo said Dr ShettyGrief and traumaLoss and trauma can lead to deep emotional pain especially when experienced together According to Dr Suresh Bada Math professor of psychiatry at NIMHANS Bengaluru when a person faces both the death of a loved one and additional trauma such as social ostracism or public criticism it becomes even more difficult to navigate The combination of grief and emotional shock can severely disrupt a personrsquos sense of safety self and control potentially leading to anxiety panic attacks insomnia and symptoms of posttraumatic stressldquoGrief is a natural response to loss but it can cause profound sadness guilt and a temporary sense of emptiness Psychiatrist Dr Elisabeth KuumlblerRoss identified five stages of grief shock and denial anger bargaining depression and acceptance Though most people recover from grief with time and support when grief and trauma occur simultaneously mdash especially after sudden violent events or social rejection the emotional toll can become overwhelming sometimes leading to complicated griefrdquo said Dr MathHe added ldquoIn these cases professional help is often needed However support from family friends and community is crucial yet frequently lackingrdquoPath to healingDr Math stressed that those experiencing both grief and trauma require compassionate nonjudgmental support systems which are often scarce in India He recommends several strategies for survivors and their families including maintaining routines reducing exposure to stigmatising media and seeking professional help if symptoms persist beyond a couple of months Law enforcement agencies too should show empathy toward the family recognising their hardshipMoving away from a hostile environment can provide temporary relief but healing requires facing trauma and grief Spirituality Dr Math added can also play a significant role in helping individuals make sense of their suffering and regain emotional balanceCriminologist speaksFrom a criminological perspective acts like those committed by Arya are rarely the result of simple malice More often they stem from a combination of personal crises untreated mental health issues and societal pressures ldquoWhile the actions themselves cannot be excused they should prompt a deeper examination of how we address mental health social isolation and systemic failures The real question is how can we prevent such tragedies by intervening earlier offering support and addressing the root causes of distress before they escalate into violent actsrdquo said Dr P Madhava Soma Sundaram department of criminology Manonmaniam Sundaranar University Tamil Nadu