Meet Mumbai Woman Who Was Seen Blocking Police Van During CJP Protests

In what is said to be one of the most defining images of the protests in Mumbai, a woman was on Wednesday seen blocking a police van that was carrying protesters who were detained during demonstrations demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities.The woman, identified as Rhiya Yadav, was seen stopping a moving police van and refusing to move during student protests near the Shivaji Park in Dadar.The video, which has now gone viral, shows her in a hoodie and cap blocking the van in the rain. As she stood there, many people around her started cheering and raising slogans. Her action reportedly helped lead to the release of detained protesters.View this post on InstagramA post shared by Rohan Joshi (@mojorojo)"The police aren't doing their job responsibly. If they won't be responsible, then we will take responsibility for our citizens," she told a reporter.Yadav said that even though she is not a student, she stands with them."What they (Delhi Police) did with the students the day before yesterday was wrong," she said, referring to the police using tear gas shells, sticks, and batons to disperse thousands of supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) who gathered in Delhi to march to the Parliament, demanding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities.Yadav was praised online, with many people calling her their "hero.""Mumbai's youth showed up today with rage in their hearts but peace in every gesture. They were manhandled, detained, but they protested with grace and fire, as is their right," Mumbai-based comedian Rohan Joshi posted on Instagram.Who Is Rhiya YadavRhiya Yadav is an actor, a model, and an entrepreneur, as per her Instagram bio. She has nearly a lakh followers on Instagram and has been seen in music videos. She last featured in a video song, 'Dilbara'.View this post on InstagramA post shared by Sumit Patwari (@soundblind)As an entrepreneur, she also handcrafts garments and has a personalised brand named 'Rhiyasat'.Protests In MumbaiMumbai has been witnessing protests in solidarity with the Cockroach Janta Party-led students' agitation in Delhi.The city saw demonstrations by political parties, activists, and students for a third consecutive day on Wednesday over exam irregularities and police crackdown on CJP protesters in Delhi.Demonstrations were staged at Shivaji Park, Chaityabhoomi, Chembur, and Shiv Sena Bhavan.The Mumbai police have registered 13 FIRs between July 18 and July 22 in connection with the ongoing protests on charges of unlawful assembly and violation of prohibitory orders, charging 400 people, officials have said.