Hyderabad, May 03: The city was put on high alert following the killing of Osama bin Laden on Monday, with the US consulate at Begumpet becoming a no-go area. Consulate staffers living in Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills have been advised to keep a low profile and stay in.
As news of Osama’s killing broke Monday morning, security in the area around the consulate was immediately strengthened.
“We deployed three platoons of AP Special Police to take care of perimeter security. Inside the consulate, private security arrangements have been engaged by the consulate,” DCP north zone K Srikanth told Express.
He said all those going towards the embassy are being thoroughly frisked and their vehicles checked. The deployment of three platoons of the APSP Monday is in addition to the existing two platoons of armed APSP personnel.
Since most of the consulate officials reside in Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills and other areas in west zone, sources said they have been advised to limit their outings and not to venture alone.
Police officials stepped up surveillance in parts of the Old City including communally sensitive localities like Saidabad and Barkas.
Sources said some meetings were held in pockets of the Old City criticising America’s attack on bin Laden and one organisation has planned special prayers in view of Osama’s death at Ujale Shah idgah tomorrow evening.
Similarly, security has been further tightened for American companies in Cyberabad and patrolling intensified.
In what appears to be a coincidence, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) had issued alerts to the police of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra just last week, asking them to beef up security following intel intercepts suggesting an attack by al-Qaeda on police offices, shopping malls and places of worship.
–Agencies