A 27-year-old model, actor and entrepreneur, Rhiya Ahir, has emerged as one of the most talked-about faces of the recent student protests in Mumbai after she stood in front of a Mumbai Police van carrying detained demonstrators, demanding their immediate release.
Images and videos of Ahir blocking the police vehicle near Shivaji Park have gone viral on social media, drawing widespread attention to her act of protest. According to Hindustan Times, Ahir was walking towards Shivaji Park at around 4.30 pm when she noticed a police van packed with detained protesters.
"The van was stuffed from the front to the back. There was no space to stand," she said.
Believing that the protesters were being taken away unnecessarily, Ahir rushed towards the vehicle and stood in front of it.
"I couldn't help myself. Their chants pulled me towards them," she said.
Ahir said she then had a heated exchange with police officers, who allegedly told her that the detainees would be released after the van had travelled some distance. She refused to accept the explanation.
"If you're going to release them anyway, release them now," she recalled telling the officers.
Claiming that the police knew they had acted incorrectly, Ahir said the officers offered little justification.
"They didn't say anything. They knew that they were in the wrong," she said.
Although she appeared calm, Ahir admitted she was frightened during the confrontation.
"When I confronted them, I was shaking on the inside. I knew that what I was doing was right," she said.
According to Ahir, she remained in front of the van until officers eventually released the detained protesters. As they stepped out, many thanked her, with some even jokingly calling her "a baddie."
Reflecting on the incident, she said she acted on instinct because she could not stand by while people were being detained.
"I knew that if they were taken away, they would be detained and FIRs would be registered against them. That's something I had to step in for. I just knew that, as a citizen, I would fail if I didn't do anything about it," she said.
Sharing the widely circulated incident on Instagram, Ahir wrote, "Bacchon ko bhar toh liya, ab kahan jaaoge?" (You may have filled the van with the students, but where will you go now?).
Also known as Rhiya Ekousiya on Instagram, Ahir is an actor, model, entrepreneur and host. Apart from modelling and acting, she runs her luxury clothing brand, Rhiyasat, and has featured in several dance projects. Her latest music video, Dilbara, was released in February 2025.
Social media users have widely praised her actions, calling her a symbol of courage and civil resistance. Many described her as a "fearless woman" who stood up to the authorities and inspired others through her actions.
Police said around 700 to 800 protesters had gathered at the site. Officers initially exercised restraint and attempted to persuade the crowd to disperse before detaining nearly 200 individuals.
"I understand that they are doing their job, but they are not doing it responsibly. If they don't behave responsibly, we must take responsibility for our citizens. What they did with students in Delhi was wrong, and they have to own up," she said in the video.
She further demanded that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan either resign or meet protesting students at Jantar Mantar.
According to Mumbai Police, 13 cases have been registered and around 400 people booked between July 18 and July 22 in connection with the ongoing student protests on charges of unlawful assembly and violation of prohibitory orders.
Another viral video shows protesters escaping police van
Even as Ahir's confrontation with police dominated social media, another viral video from Mumbai's Chembur area showed a man casually opening the latch of a police van carrying detained student protesters, allowing several youths to jump out and flee.
Mumbai
— Nehr_who? (@Nher_who) July 22, 2026
Police were taking away detained students from the protest site
A random stranger went and opened the door lock and freed all the students
The students jumped out in joy and can be seen dancing fearlessly
Man what a scene ?❤️ pic.twitter.com/n0h6zeZHf7
The incident occurred during a student protest at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Udyan Chowk under the jurisdiction of the Chembur police station. According to Mumbai Police, the demonstration was held in violation of prohibitory orders.
The videos of both the police van escape and Rhiya Ahir's confrontation have become defining images of the ongoing protests, fuelling widespread debate on policing, students' right to protest, and the government's handling of the agitation.
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