<h1>Police used lethal force to end three-hour hostage standoff, rescuing 17 children and two adults; legal issues follow</h1> A nearly three-hour hostage incident in Mumbai ended when police used force, rescuing 17 children and two adults from a studio; the hostage-taker died from a gunshot wound sustained during the operation. The case raises issues of use of lethal force, child protection, criminal liability for hostage-taking, and standards for police negotiation and entry in non-terror situations. Precedent incidents in the city illustrate recurring operational and legal challenges, including proportionality of force, investigatory obligations, potential charges against the perpetrator's estate, and the need for procedures for victim support and accountability reviews.