An Indian man kidnapped a group of children from his village in Uttar Pradesh, northern India, after inviting them to participate in his one-year-old daughter's birthday party, as it later turned out to be a trap.
From the time these children entered the house, the man closed them and held them hostage, as did his wife and daughter.
A state of terror dominated the village, as everyone feared the fate of the little children.
The police cordoned off the house and had been negotiating with the kidnapper for 9 hours, during which only a young girl was freed.
Later, the authorities resorted to the use of special forces that stormed the house, and killed the kidnapper during the exchange of fire.
None of the children abducted at home were injured, but they lived through intense moments of terror, local officials said.
Indian media says the man, Subhash Bathham, has kidnapped the children in an apparent attempt to exact revenge on the villagers, as he was believed to be responsible for his arrest in a previous murder case.