Pedestrian opens latch, detained students escape from police van in Mumbai

Source: PTI

A police attempt to transport student protesters in a van in Mumbai's Chembur area was foiled when a man casually walked up and opened the latch, allowing several youths to escape, according to a viral video.

Incident Details

The incident occurred during a student protest held on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) afternoon at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Udyan Chowk, within the jurisdiction of the Chembur police station. Police said the demonstration was held in violation of prohibitory orders.

According to police, between 700 and 800 protesters had assembled at the site.

An official stated that police personnel exercised restraint and attempted to persuade the crowd to disperse, after which the gathering broke up. Around 200 individuals were identified from the crowd and detained.

Viral Video Footage

In the viral video, a man approaches a police van carrying the detained protesters and opens the latch, enabling several students to jump out and run away, even as a young woman following the vehicle claps.

Related Protest Video

Another viral video showed a young woman standing in the way of a police vehicle, raising slogans during a protest in Mumbai.

"I understand that they are doing their job, but they are not doing it responsibly. If they don't behave responsibly, we must take responsibility for our citizens. What they did with students in Delhi was wrong, and they have to own up. We cannot go to Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan should resign. If not, then he should go to Jantar Mantar and talk to students," the woman says in the video.

Legal Actions

According to the Mumbai police, they have registered 13 cases, booking 400 persons, between July 18 and July 22, in connection with the ongoing protests on charges of unlawful assembly and violation of prohibitory orders.