HYDERABAD: In a move, being termed “deplorable” by local attorneys and residents, the US police, on Thursday, strapped tracking devices on to several Indian students caught in the

. It has been done to restrict the movement of these students, while federal agents probe their immigration status, sources said.

Speaking to TOI from Atlanta, legal consultant Phani Bobba said: “A student reached out to me from Fremont, California, saying that they tied a tracker around her ankle and instructed her to stay within a certain radius. She was given a map and asked not to cross the defined boundaries. They also gave her batteries to ensure that the device is charged.” The student, from Telangana, was detained for over 14 hours prior to that.

Reacting to this development, members of the Telugu Association of North America (TANA) said it was “ridiculous” and “grossly unjust”.

Similar scenes had unfolded in 2011, when dozens of Indian students were detained for being enrolled in the sham

in Pleasanton, California. The move had led to a massive outcry both at home and in the US, with Indian authorities demanding that the radio tags be removed immediately. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had even submitted a representation the external affairs ministry, ruing how it amounted to violation of students’ human rights.

Meanwhile, intensifying their efforts to help students, TANA members met Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Indian ambassador to the US who was on his maiden trip to Atlanta, along with consul general of India (Atlanta), Swati Vijay Kulkarni. “They promised that they were working closely with the authorities concerned and will resolve the issue in a fast and amicable manner,” said Anjaiah Chowdary Lavu, secretary of TANA, adding that Shringla also assured to reach out to all those affected by the crisis.