Rhiya Ahir Confronts Police Amid Mumbai Protests Over NEET Leak and Delhi Crackdown

A young woman standing with her arms outstretched in front of a police van during heavy rain has emerged as one of the defining images of protests in Mumbai held in solidarity with the CJP's agitation over the alleged NEET paper leak. As protests over examination irregularities continued in Delhi, hundreds of people gathered in Mumbai on Wednesday, condemning the alleged police crackdown on demonstrators during the 'Sansad Chalo' march. Videos widely shared on social media showed the woman, dressed in a grey hoodie, stopping a police vehicle carrying detained protesters while demonstrators raised slogans, bringing traffic to a halt on a busy road. Speaking to local reporters, she said, "While the police are doing their job, they are not doing it responsibly. If no one is taking responsibility, we will take responsibility for our citizens." "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 added, "I am not a student, my father is not a farmer, nor am I. I am not a Dalit or belong to the OBC community, but what they did to the students (in Delhi) is wrong. They have to own up to their actions." Questioning the government's response, she asked why Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had not met the protesters at the demonstration site if they were not being allowed to march to Parliament. The woman was identified as Rhiya, who describes herself on Instagram as an actor, model and entrepreneur. She has around 100,000 followers on the platform and has appeared in music videos, including Dilbara. Another video from the Mumbai protests showed a group of demonstrators running behind a police van and opening its rear door from the outside, allowing detained protesters to get out while the vehicle was moving. Political parties, activists and students took to the streets across Mumbai for a third consecutive day on Wednesday despite heavy rain, protesting over the alleged examination irregularities and the police action against demonstrators in Delhi. Police said they had registered 13 first information reports (FIRs) since July 18 in connection with the protests, accusing around 400 people of unlawful assembly and violating prohibitory orders. Demonstrations were held at several locations, including Shivaji Park, Chaityabhoomi, Chembur and Shiv Sena Bhavan. Police said no permission had been granted for the gatherings. Several videos circulating on social media also highlighted other moments from the protests. One showed senior citizens cheering demonstrators from the balconies of nearby chawls as marchers walked through the rain. Another clip, reportedly filmed in Dadar, showed protesters making way for children to reach a school bus. Mumbai Police have imposed prohibitory orders banning the assembly of five or more people in public places from July 23 to August 6, citing concerns over a possible breach of peace and disturbance to public tranquillity.