The blue police van dominates the frame.
A young woman, Rhiya Ahir, stands in front of it in a rain-soaked hoodie, one hand pressed against the metal. Behind the windshield sit police officers. Inside the van are young protesters detained after demonstrations in India’s financial capital Mumbai on Wednesday.
India’s ‘cockroach’ protests began more than a month ago over alleged leaks in some of the country’s most competitive entrance exams for medical schools and government jobs. Since then, the movement has grown beyond exam complaints, drawing professionals and families and reflecting broader public frustration.
The confrontation lasted about 40 minutes.
Ahir said she had been waiting for friends before joining the protest when she saw the police van. She asked officers if they had the required paperwork to detain the protesters.
Unsatisfied with the response, she first walked alongside the moving vehicle. When she could no longer keep up, she stepped in front of it.
The 27-year-old said she could not accept seeing ordinary citizens being treated like criminals simply for protesting.
The driver revved the engine, startling her. Ahir said the possibility of being detained or injured crossed her mind, but she refused to move. She held her ground until the protesters were released.
Ahir admitted she was afraid. But conviction prevailed.
“I knew one thing,” she said. “If I had started this, I had to end it.”
India’s “cockroach” protests began more than a month ago over alleged leaks in some of the country’s most competitive entrance exams for medical colleges and government jobs. The movement has since expanded beyond exam grievances, drawing professionals and families to join the ranks of students while channelling broader frustration.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke his silence on Thursday as thousands of young protesters continued to camp on the streets of Delhi, but stopped short of meeting their demand for the resignation of the country's education minister. He later addressed the issue again in a post on X on Thursday night.
More strict actions against paper leaks to come in tomorrow’s Cabinet! pic.twitter.com/NRysBukk5U
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 23, 2026
His comments came as support for the Cockroach Janta Party protests continued to grow despite a police crackdown on demonstrators at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Monday. Police used tear gas and batons to stop protesters from marching to Parliament to demand the education minister's resignation.
The crackdown prompted several prominent opposition politicians to back the protesters while condemning the police response. It was followed by a sit-in outside Mr Modi's residence led by Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders, who were later forcibly removed by police.
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