Srinagar, August 19: The Indian Army on Sunday dismissed Jammu and Kashmir People's Movement leader Shehla Rashid's allegations of violence by armed forces in Jammu and Kashmir amid restrictions and communication blackout. In a series of tweets, Shehla Rashid accused the Indian Army of vandalising homes and detaining and torturing youths in the wake of abrogation of the provisions of Article 370 that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

"People are saying that Jammu and Kashmir Police has no authority on law and order situation. They have been rendered powerless. Everything is in the hands of paramilitary forces. One SHO was transferred on complaint of a CRPF man. SHOs carrying batons. Service revolvers can't be seen on them," Rashid tweeted. In another post, she wrote, "Armed forces are entering houses at night, picking up boys, ransacking houses, deliberately spilling rations on the floor, mixing oil with rice, etc." Jammu And Kashmir: After Revocation of Article 370, Government Plans For Delimitation of Assembly Seats.

Rashid also claimed that in Shopian, four 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 terrorised. This created an environment of fear in the entire area," she alleged. Reacting to Rashid's charges, the Indian Army said: "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."

Shehla Rashid's Tweets and Indian Army's Reaction:

On Agust 5, the Parliament scrapped the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act which bifurcates the state into two union territories - Jammu and Kashmir with a legislature, and Ladakh without one. A day before the major announcement, a clampdown was imposed on Jammu and Kashmir. All communication mediums were blocked.

On Saturday, the state government restored 2G mobile internet services in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur and Reasi districts. Landline services also resumed in 17 telephone exchanges in the Kashmir valley. However, yesterday, the services were suspended again.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 19, 2019 08:25 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).