According to Model Riya Ahir, she has been subjected to harassment and online abuses ever since the protest of students. Model Riya Ahir was seen standing in front of the Mumbai police van in one of the recent protests, whose video became viral.

At a press conference with opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and several student protesters, Ahir said, "I want to tell the media that I am not the girl who went viral for stopping the Mumbai police. I am the girl who prevented 20 children from being illegally detained. Please change your perspective, change your thinking."

Ahir alleged that the backlash she faced was more than just online trolling. She said, "I wouldn't call it trolling because it's not trolling, it's a crime." She claimed that even political party workers were spreading derogatory posts about her on social media.

According to Ahir, some social media posts accused her of "selling her body for 140 rupees." She described these comments as extremely insulting. "Just imagine how filthy their minds are that they can say such things," she said.

She further claimed that despite filing a complaint on July 27, no FIR has been filed. She alleged, "Today is August 5th. I still haven't received a copy of the FIR."

In an emotional appeal, Ahir said, "They are neither allowing their daughters to study, nor are they allowing their daughters to escape."

The 27-year-old model became a well-known face of the recent student protests after a video showed her standing with her hands outstretched in front of a police van transporting detained protesters in Mumbai. The footage quickly went viral, and many considered her a symbol of resistance.

The protests in Mumbai were being held over alleged irregularities in the education system and the leaking of exam papers. Police subsequently filed several FIRs in connection with the protests, charging hundreds of people with unlawful assembly and violating prohibitory orders.

Ahir was among several young protesters who attended a press conference with Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday. The Congress leader accused the government of using force and intimidation against students.