Bangalore in danger; ATMs, Jewellery Shops, Banks under vigilance

Belgaum, Nov 26: Days after the brutal attack on a woman inside an ATM in Bangalore, government has taken a bold step to beef up security across the Garden City.

government on Tuesday, Nov 26 announced that it will come up with guidelines on security cover for not only ATMs but also jewellery shops and other financial units.

A committee under Additional Chief Secretary S K Patnaik has been formed to frame guidelines on providing security at ATMs and other financial units also, Minister for Home T J George told the Legislative Assembly, which is holding its winter session in Belgum.

In a brazen attack at an ATM kiosk here on Nov 19, a 38-year-bank official was repeatedly hit with a machete by an assailant whose horrific act caught on CCTV footage evoked nationwide outrage. The woman is now recovering at a hospital.

The incident had prompted Karnataka government to ask banks to provide round the clock security or shut down, deadline for which ended on Sunday, Nov 24.

Govt guidelines on providing security at ATMs and other financial units also

Over 1,000 ATMs in Bangalore which failed to comply with the directive are now shutdown. George said of the 2,500 ATMs in the city, 600 are unmanned.

"We have shut some ATMs wanting for security cover. But it isn't permanent shutdown. As soon as the banks concerned provide security at their ATMs, we would allow them to function," he said.

Replying to the issue raised by Suresh Kumar (BJP), the minister said the committee, comprising banks, law and home department officials, would come out with its guidelines in the next 45 days.

Earlier Bangalore Police had shut down about 1,050 ATMs across the city for not posting round-the-clock security guards and installing CCTV camera outside and burglar alarms in their kiosks.

In a recent survey done after a spate of ATM-related crimes were reported, police found of the 2,580 such kiosks across the city, about 600 were without security guards and many of them did not have CCTV camera outside and none burglar alarm.

OneIndia News
(With PTI inputs)