A young woman named Riya Yadav drew national attention in Mumbai on Wednesday during ongoing protests demanding the resignation of India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Near Shivaji Park in Dadar, she stood in front of a police van carrying detained demonstrators, blocking its path despite heavy rain. A viral video showed her refusing police requests to move, and local media reported that some detainees were released afterward.

Riya told reporters that if police fail to act responsibly, citizens must take responsibility themselves. Although not a student, she expressed full support for the student-led movement, calling police actions in Delhi unacceptable. Her stance earned widespread praise on social media, where many hailed her as a hero. According to her Instagram profile, Riya is an actress, model, and entrepreneur with about 100,000 followers.

The Mumbai protests, held for a third consecutive day, expressed solidarity with the student movement led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) in Delhi. Demonstrators condemned exam irregularities and police crackdowns, gathering across several city areas despite restrictions.