Mumbai, July 23 -- Rhiya Ahir, a 27-year-old model, had not planned on becoming one of the defining faces of the protest at Shivaji Park on Wednesday. Ahir was walking towards Shivaji Park around 4.30 pm when she noticed a police van packed with detained protesters. The sight immediately disturbed her. "The van was stuffed from the front to the back. There was no space to stand," she said. Believing the protesters were being taken away unnecessarily, she rushed towards the vehicle and stood in front of it. "I couldn't help myself," she said. "Their chants-they pulled me towards them." What followed was a heated exchange with the police. "They didn't say anything. They knew that they were wrong," said Ahir. The officers allegedly told her that the detainees would be released after the van had travelled some distance. Ahir refused to accept that explanation. "If you're going to release them anyway, release them now," she insisted. Behind her calm exterior, Ahir said she was deeply anxious. "When I confronted them, I was shaking on the inside," she said. Yet, she believes her conviction outweighed her fear. "I knew that what I was doing was right." She remained in front of the van until, according to her, the officers gave in and released the protesters. As those released stepped out of the van, many came over to thank her. "They shook my hand," she said with a smile, adding that some jokingly called her "a baddie". Looking back, Ahir said she simply acted because, in that moment, she felt she could not stand by and do nothing. "I knew that if they were taken, they would be detained, and there would be FIRs against them. That's something I had to step in for. I just knew that I, as a citizen, will fail if I don't do anything about it," she said....