By Ayaan Khan
Citizens staying near the Paigah Palace, which houses the temporary US Consulate in Hyderabad, will be asked to carry residence proof for their easy commutation. Also, they will have to apply for ‘special residence identity cards’ with police. Once they have the cards, the residents will not be frisked by police while passing through the Chiran Fort Lane. However, their relatives and friends visiting them will have to go through routine checks of their vehicles and also frisking.
With the opening of the US Consulate General in Hyderabad for business on Thursday with the issue of non-immigrant visas, security measures have become so stringent that locals cannot commute on the road with barricades every few yards.
“Police have not approached us for any kind of identity proof. But the security is so stringent on the main lane before the consulate that most of us are taking sublanes while travelling. It will be better if we get the identity cards soon,” B Sirish, a resident of Krish Apartments, Chiran Fort Lane, said. Police sources said they would collect address proof of all families staying in the locality within three days and make a list for verification.
Members of Chiran Fort Club would be allowed without checking if they have their club identity cards.
Meanwhile, the first person to get visa from the American consulate was a businessman from Sainikpuri, Rajendra Kumar Kothakonda. Head of a construction company, Tanvi Constructions, Rajendra Kumar applied for visa to meet his brother, K Shailendra Kumar, in Atlanta.
Ranjendra’s family, including his wife, Saritha and two children—four-year-old, Tanvi and nine-month-old Saanvi—also got visas along with him. They might head for the US in April.
Rajendra’s was the first appointment of the day at 10.30 am and was given the visa by 11.15 am. The consulate had started issuing non-immigrant visas (NIVs) on Thursday from 10.30 am to 4.30 pm.
Though the consulate will interview 100 people per day, not many came seeking visas. Most of those who had turned up included those who wanted visiting visas and student visas.
Fathima Mumtaz got her nonimmigration visa for pursuing studies in the US. She had got admission in the Berkley State University, California and will be leaving shortly.
“I was initially scared, but the interview was conducted in a very friendly atmosphere. I was relieved to get a visa,” Mumtaz said.
With the visa interviewees coming in, the security is strengthened outside the consulate. Both traffic police and law and order police officers were found outside the consulate in large numbers. Four patrolling vans were stationed outside the consulate and there was high alert in the area.
The Chiran Fort Lane, where the consulate is located, was cordoned off with barricades.
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