How a 27-year-old woman broke the internet during Mumbai's CJP protests

She said she was “shaking” inside, but still she stood up. She perhaps did not even come for the protest, but she has become one of the most defining images of the demonstration in Mumbai.

Meet Rhiya Ahir, a Mumbai woman who is now the face of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests in the financial capital after blocking a police van that carried detained protesters, including women, at Shivaji Park. Her act secured the release of those detained.

The metropolitan city is also protesting in solidarity with CJP-led students' agitation in Delhi over examination irregularities and Neet paper leaks, demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.

We take a look.

Who is Rhiya Ahir?

Rhiya Ahir is an actor, a model, and an entrepreneur, according to her Instagram bio. Ahir enjoys a strong presence on Instagram with lakhs of followers. The 27-year-old model has been seen in music videos.

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Ahir has also appeared in a video song, 'Dilbara'. As an entrepreneur, she creates handcrafted garments under her personalised brand, 'Rhiyasat.'

She comes from a defence family. Ahir’s father has served in the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and some members of her family have worked in the armed forces, India Today reported.

Ahir was a psychology student who could not finish her graduation due to work commitments. She is currently enrolled in a distance education course in English Literature at the University of Mumbai.

Ahir launched Riyasat last year. Riyasat is an initiative that connects local artisans with customers, inspired by the controversy over Prada's Kolhapuri chappal design. Ahir has been working in Hindi theatre for the past 13 years.

How Ahir became the face of CJP protests in Mumbai

The 27-year-old did not imagine that she would become the face of the demonstrations.

Acting purely on instinct, she did not know any of the people inside the police van; however, she saw the van packed with protesters, including women and decided to intervene.

"I saw people stuffed inside the van. I tried to pull a woman out, but the police stopped me. So I stood in front of the vehicle and demanded that they be released," Ahir told IE.

In a now-viral video, she has been seen standing adamant in front of a Mumbai police van carrying a group of detained students protesting against paper leaks.

Watch the video here:

Ahir alleged that the driver repeatedly started the engine to intimidate her, but she stood her ground, refused to budge until detainees were released. Seeing her act of courage, others quickly joined her too.

Since then, the video has been widely circulated on social media. According to her account, she never took part in a protest before. She first visited Shivaji Park on July 21 after closely following the student movement in Delhi.

By the time she reached, police had already begun detaining protesters. She returned the next day, when the now-viral incident unfolded.

“When I confronted them, I was shaking on the inside. I knew that what I was doing was right. I don't know where I got the courage from, but probably courage is in my blood," she revealed.

Her own experiences with the education system pushed her to participate in the movement. "It is not just about the Neet exams. It is about the system," said Ahir.

Today, many are calling Ahir their “hero.”

How the CJP protest is spiralling in Mumbai

Mumbai has also been witnessing the students’ agitation like the national capital.

The city remained gripped by protests for a third consecutive day on Wednesday (July 22) over paper leaks and police crackdown on CJP protesters in Delhi.

Several activists and students staged demonstrations at Shivaji Park, Chaityabhoomi, Chembur, and Shiv Sena Bhavan.

According to officials, between July 18 and July 22, Mumbai Police filed 13 FIRs linked to the ongoing protests, charging participants with unlawful assembly and violating prohibitory orders.

With inputs from agencies