‘I just did the Bombay thing’: Rhiya Ahir’s 40-minute standoff with a police van at Mumbai’s CJP protests
“I didn’t think of anything in that moment, I just jumped in front of the van. I just knew that I had to make my voice heard and use my body to let the police know this was not right. So, I just did the Bombay thing, stood in front of the van and held my arm out, and told them to stop.” Before stepping in front of the vehicle, Ahir tried reasoning with the police.
- ▪“I didn’t think of anything in that moment, I just jumped in front of the van.
- ▪I just knew that I had to make my voice heard and use my body to let the police know this was not right.
- ▪So, I just did the Bombay thing, stood in front of the van and held my arm out, and told them to stop.” Before stepping in front of the vehicle, Ahir tried reasoning with the police.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
“I didn’t think of anything in that moment, I just jumped in front of the van. I just knew that I had to make my voice heard and use my body to let the police know this was not right. So, I just did the Bombay thing, stood in front of the van and held my arm out, and told them to stop.” Before stepping in front of the vehicle, Ahir tried reasoning with the police. She asked why the protesters were being taken away, whether there was a warrant, and even tried pulling one detainee out through the van door as it crawled forward. Nothing worked. Realising she was running out of road, she decided to become the obstacle instead. She admits she was scared. “If they run over, God help them.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Indian Express.
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