Rashid said that the IAS officer has been "trying his best to get messages and help across to people even outside the boundaries of his district."
Former JNU student leader Shehla Rashid, who recently made some shocking remarks about the ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir, on Thursday praised the Srinagar administration.
The rare praise by Rashid was for Srinagar District Commissioner (DC) Shahid Choudhary.
The political activist said that the IAS officer has been "trying his best to get messages and help across to people even outside the boundaries of his district."
Earlier this month, Parliament had revoked Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and also passed the Jammu and Kashmir (Reorganisation) Bill 2019, reorganising the state into two Union Territories -- Jammu and Kashmir with Assembly and Ladakh without legislature.
Taking strict security measure, the government shut down all communication lines in Jammu and Kashmir. In the Valley, some landlines have started functioning now but other modes of communication are still not working.
(With ANI inputs)
1. 'One must appreciate the attempts by Srinagar DC'
)
"Although everyone is helpless in the current situation, one must appreciate the attempts by Srinagar DC @listenshahid (Shahid Choudhary) who has been trying his best to get messages and help across to people even outside the boundaries of his district. Saying this on a purely human basis," Shehla Rashid tweeted.
2. Will submit proof: Shehla Rashid on allegations against Army
)
After stoking controversy with her comments on the ground situation of Jammu and Kashmir, Ms Rashid on Thursday defended herself and stated she will submit evidence to substantiate her claims once Army conducts an inquiry.
The Army has accused Rashid of spreading fake news after her claims about alleged human rights abuses in the region.
Seeking a fair and impartial probe by the Army into allegations levelled against her, she said: "What I said is based on authentic conservations with Kashmiri people, who have absolutely no reason to lie. Because the world's largest Army has reacted to my statement let the Army conduct an enquiry into the incidents that I have mentioned."
"I will depose before the Army. I will give them particulars of the incidents where this has happened and let them initiate an enquiry. And if people are found guilty and what I am saying is found to be true then Indian Army should give us an assurance that people will actually be punished," she added.
Surrounded by media persons asking the political activist to justify her remarks made in a series of tweets, she said, "Why shall I not tweet?..... Has Modi government banned tweeting or is there a ban on tweeting by Kashmiris?"
3. Shehla Rashid's claim
)
Earlier, in a series of tweets on August 18, Rashid had accused the paramilitary forces deputed in Kashmir of ransacking and torturing people by entering their houses.
"Armed forces are entering house at night, picking up boys, ransacking houses, deliberately spilling rations on the floor, mixing oil with rice, etc", she had tweeted.
"In Shopian, 4 men were called into the Army camp and "interrogated" (tortured). A mic was kept close to them so that the entire area could hear them scream, and be terrorized. This created an environment of fear in the entire area," she had said in another tweeted.
The Army had rejected her allegations, saying, "Allegations levelled by Shehla Rashid are baseless and rejected. Such unverified and fake news are spread by inimical elements and organisations to incite unsuspecting population".
4. Criminal complaint filed
)
A criminal complaint has been filed against Rashid by Supreme Court lawyer Alakh Alok Srivastava for deliberately and intentionally spreading fake news with the intention to incite violence in Jammu and Kashmir and in other parts of the country.
The complainant had said that her tweets, which were intensively shared on Twitter and other international platforms, caused irreparable injury to the reputation of India.
He had alleged that Rashid intended to excite disaffection towards the government, which is prima facie an offence of sedition under Section 124-A of IPC.
