MUMBAI: Model Riya Ahir, who became one of the most recognisable faces of Mumbai’s Gen Z protest after she was photographed blocking a police van carrying detained protesters, has now sought withdrawal of the FIR against her and action against those allegedly threatening and abusing her on social media.Ahir raised the issue during a meeting between a Mumbai Youth Congress delegation and Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Manoj Sharma.The delegation also sought police intervention over the online harassment she has faced since the protest.According to Youth Congress leaders, Sharma assured them that the process of withdrawing the FIR would be initiated soon and that police would investigate the people allegedly sending threatening messages to Ahir.Speaking after the meeting, Ahir said she had been facing abusive comments and threats on social media since the protest. She alleged that although she had approached the police with a complaint, no concrete action had been taken so far.The delegation that accompanied her to the Mumbai Police Commissioner’s Office included Youth Congress national secretary Hargun Singh and Mumbai Youth Congress president Zeenat Shabreen.Singh questioned the delay in withdrawing the FIRs, saying a notification had already been issued for the withdrawal of cases against students who participated in the protest.Ahir also raised the case of 19-year-old Muskan, another participant in the protest, saying she too had been facing a similar barrage of abusive comments and threats online.Shabreen said young women were being targeted merely for expressing their views and demanded immediate action against social media accounts allegedly involved in harassment and intimidation.Ahir had shot into the spotlight after a rain-soaked protest at Shivaji Park in Dadar on July 22. A viral photograph from the demonstration showed her in a grey hoodie standing in front of a police van carrying detained young protesters.The image of Ahir blocking the van became one of the most prominent visuals to emerge from the Mumbai protests.(With PTI inputs)
