India, Oct. 31 -- Hours after Rohit Arya was shot dead by the Mumbai Police following a three-hour hostage standoff in Powai, his neighbours expressed shock and disbelief over the meticulously planned ordeal.

While his wife said he had been driven to desperation over an alleged unpaid dues for a government project, those who knew him in Pune and Mumbai remembered his "calm and composed" mannerism.

"He was heading the PLC Swachhta Monitor project. Kesarkar saheb had appreciated it and said the government would sanction Rs.2 crore for implementation. The work was completed, but Rohit never received the payment, not even formal recognition," said Anjali Arya, who reached the scene after learning of the hostage situation.

Arya was killed o...