Even if all banks in the state agree to hire security guards for all their ATMs, finding so many guards will be a massive task, industry body Assocham said on Friday.
According to an assessment made by Assocham days after a mugger attacked a bank manager after entering an ATM kiosk near Corporation Circle, there is a shortage of nearly 1.5 lakh security guards across the country. The study estimates that only 50,000 ATMs are guarded out of the total 1.25 lakh ATM sites in India.
The study further suggests that along with expediting the process of hiring security guards, banks need to look at deployment of gadgets like automatic alarms, high definition cameras and central monitoring rooms in each city to monitor the footage.
“This would require perfect coordination between the banks and police authorities. Also, the use of cards must be encouraged in more outlets in order to reduce the use of hard cash,” said D S Rawat, secretary general, Assocham.
Meanwhile, Silver Jubilee Park police on Friday detained one Sathish (32) in Tiptur on suspicion that he could be the one behind the ATM attack. But they released him on Friday after investigation ruled out his involvement.
Victim Improving
Dr N K Venkataramana, who is treating the victim Jyothi Uday, said, “The patient’s general condition is much better than yesterday. She is conscious and speaking. Her neurological status remains the same.”