Meet Rhiya Ahir, the Mumbai woman whose standing in front of a police van became a viral protest image | Today’s news
A young woman seen standing in front of a police van with her arms outstretched during a protest in Mumbai has become one of the most talked-about faces of demonstrations held in solidarity with the Janta cockroach party’s agitation over the NEET paper leak.
A picture of Rhyi Ahir, dressed in a gray sweatshirt and standing still in the midst of heavy rain, was widely shared on social media. The incident occurred on Wednesday as people gathered in Mumbai to support protests over alleged irregularities in investigations and to condemn the reported police crackdown on protesters during the ‘Sansad Chalo’ march in Delhi.
Video footage from the protest showed Ahir standing in front of a police vehicle carrying detained protesters while protesters raised slogans, bringing traffic to a brief standstill.
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Rhiya Ahir is a 27-year-old actor, model and entrepreneur who became a prominent figure during the Mumbai protests. She is known for standing in front of a police van to prevent protesters from being detained, becoming a viral symbol of the demonstrations.
The protests were launched in response to alleged irregularities in investigations, particularly regarding the NEET paper leak, and the police crackdown on protesters during the Sansad Chalo march in Delhi.
Rhiya Ahir questioned the police’s handling of the protests, saying they did not act responsibly. She expressed concern over the detained students and said she would take responsibility for the citizens if there was no accountability.
Rhiya Ahir felt compelled to stand in front of a police van after witnessing protesters being arrested. Motivated by the protesters’ chants, she believed it was her duty to oppose the detention.
Mumbai Police registered 13 FIRs related to the protests, booked around 400 individuals accused of unlawful assembly and issued injunctions banning gatherings in public places.
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“We will accept responsibility”
Speaking to local reporters, Ahir questioned the police’s handling of the protests.
“The police are doing their job, but they are not doing it responsibly. If no one is responsible, we will take responsibility for our citizens.”
“I am not a student, my father is not a farmer, neither am I. I am not a Dalit nor do I belong to the OBC community, but what they did to the students (in Delhi) is wrong. They must own up to their actions.”
Ahir also asked why Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan could not meet them at the protest site if the protesters were not allowed to march towards Parliament.
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Who is Rhiya Ahir?
According to her Instagram profile, Rhiya Ahir is a 27-year-old actress, model and entrepreneur with close to a million followers. She has appeared in music videos, including “Dilbara”.
According to an earlier Hindustan Times report, Ahir was walking from Kohinoor Square in Dadar towards Shivaji Park when she spotted a police van carrying detained protesters.
“I couldn’t help it,” she said. “Their chanting – they pulled me in. I thought if I go to the protest, it starts from there. They’re taking them away, and I can’t let that happen.”
Ahir said the police told her the detainees would be released after the vehicle had traveled a certain distance, but she said she did not accept that explanation.
“I was shaking inside”
Although she appeared calm in the viral videos, Ahir said she was nervous throughout the confrontation.
“When I confronted them, I was shaking inside.
“I knew what I was doing was right.
Ahir also claimed that the police initially tried to move the vehicle forward.
“They tried to speed it up a bit, but it didn’t move me.
According to Ahir, she remained outside the van until the detained protesters were released.
In another video posted on social media, Ahir said:
“Having a peaceful rally to summon a prime minister is like… What are you living in 1947? If you want to summon a prime minister, you hold a big fat Indian wedding.”
She also shared a video explaining the measures she took before joining the protest. Referring to the hat she was wearing, she said:
“This is the hat, if I get a stick on my head, you will protect me from it.
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Mumbai protests and police action
While Ahir’s confrontation with the police became one of the defining visuals of the demonstrations, other videos of the protests also gained attention online. One clip showed protesters opening the back door of a police van to free detained protesters, while others captured senior citizens cheering protesters from balconies and protesters clearing the way for children heading for a school bus.
According to PTI, the Mumbai police have registered 13 FIRs since July 18 in connection with the protests, booking around 400 people on charges including unlawful assembly and violation of prohibitions.
Police said demonstrations were held without permission at Shivaji Park, Chaityabhoomi, Chembur and Shiv Sena Bhavan. They also imposed bans in Mumbai from July 23 to August 6, banning gatherings of five or more people in public places, citing concerns about possible breach of peace and disturbance of public order.
