Police ask banks in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack to step up security
BHUBANESWAR: Alarmed by recent bank robberies and ATM thefts, the commissionerate police on Friday convened a meeting with authorities of several banks, both nationalized and private, and advised them to improve security systems at their branches and ATMs.
“We have been requesting banks to deploy security guards and enhance security protocols at their branches and ATMs. The fresh interaction was held against the backdrop of two bank robberies here last month. Besides, a case related to ATM break-in here too was reported. Banks have again been asked to follow our advisories and install latest security gadgets to prevent loot incidents,” commissioner of police Sudhanshu Sarangi said.
The police are jittery after armed miscreants robbed Rs 20 lakh from an UCO bank’s branch in Bhograi area of Balasore district on October 13. The commissionerate police arrested a youth on October 5 for allegedly robbing Rs 2.78 lakh from Indian Overseas Bank’s branch at Nandan Vihar here on September 7 and Rs 9.5 lakh from Bank of India’s Barimund branch here on September 28. Police have not been able to make any headway in both the cases.
Police were on their toes when unidentified miscreants broke open an unguarded ATM of Punjab National Bank under Infocity police limits here on October 11 and stole nearly Rs 28 lakh cash. The alert Cuttack police fortunately foiled a similar ATM break-in on October 13 and arrested a man, who learnt the loot skills from YouTube.
“Safety and security of our bank branches and ATMs is our priority. We regularly inspect our security protocols. We will also comply with the suggestions by the police,” HDFC bank’s circle head Deepak Kumar Singh told TOI.
Authorities of some public sector banks said deployment of security guards, installation of high quality security gadgets and their maintenance is a commercial burden for them. “Such matters related to security of branches and ATMs are decided at our headquarters. We will share the advisory and recommendations by the police to our head office for consideration,” Indian Overseas Bank’s deputy general manager Dilip Kumar Barik said.
Earlier in the advisory, the police had asked all banks to immediately deploy private security guards with licenced firearms. Banks were advised to install latest alarm systems, hidden cameras in their establishments and provide body-worn spy cameras to their staff.