NEW DELHI, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Over a dozen children and a woman were taken hostage Thursday evening by a murder convict who is out on parole in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, police said.

The victims include the convict's wife, children and other children of his neighborhood.

The hostage crisis is ongoing at Mohamadabad area of Farukkhabad district, about 188 km northwest of Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh.

"This evening a person namely Subhash Batham (a murder convict who was out on parole) invited some children of the neighborhood and held them hostage in the basement of his house along with his own children and wife," a police official said.

According to the police official, the number of children held hostage can be beyond 12.

An eyewitness said a huge crowd including parents and neighbors of the children has gathered outside the house, watching the crisis.

Reports said that when some local residents tried to break down the door, the man started firing from inside and even hurled a crude bomb to scare them away.

"A special team of trained personnel is at the spot, and we have kept commandos on standby. Our priority is to ensure the safety of the children and rescue them at the earliest," Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police O P Singh told reporters.

"It is a difficult situation and all senior police officers are at the spot. We want to rescue the children without any collateral damage. Local legislator Nagendra Singh is also trying to talk to the man."

Police said so far the man has not made any demands against the release of hostages. Enditem

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