New Delhi:
Delhi's Patiala House Court has granted interim protection from arrest to political activist Shehla Rashid in connection with an FIR lodged against her under Sedition Law. An FIR was lodged on a complaint filed against her, by a Supreme Court lawyer, on allegations of defaming Indian Army through her tweets.
In his order, additional sessions judge Pawan Kumar Jain at Patiala House court granted interim protection from arrest to Rashid. He wrote: “I am of the view that the matter requires investigation in detailâ€Â and posted it next for November 5. Till then, he ordered that the “accused shall not be arrestedâ€Â. However, he directed that she would “join the investigationâ€Â as and when called by the investigation officer.
Delhi Police on Friday had lodged a sedition FIR against Shehla Rashid for allegedly spreading ‘false information’ on Kashmir via Twitter. The complaint was forwarded to Special Cell and Rashid was booked, apart from other sections, for under section 124A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code as well.
After abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, Rashid had tweeted about ‘atrocities’ in Valley. Tweeting from her verified Twitter handle, the political activist had alleged that that ‘(1) army is entering house of people of Kashmir at night; (2)Picking boys (for illegal detention); (3) ransacking houses; (4) spilling ration on the floor; (5)mixing oil with rice; (6) In Sophian Four Kashmiri were called at army camp and were tortured and a mike was kept close to the table so that entire area could hear their scream.’
The Indian Army had categorically denied all the allegations.
Rashid has maintained that she stands by her comments about alleged human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir and will give proof if the Indian Army initiates an inquiry into her claims.
When asked about evidence for her controversial claims, which drew sharp reactions from the Indian Army, Shehla Rashid said, "I will give the evidence when the Indian Army constitutes an inquiry. I have given you my statement. Has the Army initiated any inquiry?"
"All I have said is based on authentic conversations with people who have come from Kashmir and have absolutely no reason to lie. I have given a lot of statements not just one. People are running out of LPG cylinders, cooking gas in Kashmir," she said.
The Narendra Modi government had revoked provisions of Article 370 of Indian Constitution that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir on August 5.
