Most of the ATM kiosks in the city do not seem to have 24/7 security. Even ATMs with security guards do not seem to be well-equipped. The Monday’s incident at Mahadevapura in which a security guard was murdered by miscreants during an attempt to loot an ATM has exposed the vulnerability of the security guards.
A senior police officer said CCTVs in most ATMs are not working properly.
A nationalised bank on Infantry Road, next to City Police Commissioner’s office, does not have a security guard round-the-clock. “Three security guards working in three shifts. Since they have installed three CCTVs, there are no security guards from the past fifteen days,” a shopkeeper said. Also, two more nationalised banks located side by side on Commercial Street do not have security guards.
ATMs at Upparpet Police Station, Majestic Circles, M G and Brigade Roads do not have security guards.
“We are neither equipped to fight all odds, which we will have to face during night shifts, nor we are educated about servers and CCTVs inside the kiosks”, a security guard of a nationalised bank’s ATM, who did not want to be named, said.
“I am provided with just a lathi. I am 50 years old now. They (Security agencies) ask for licence to give pistols. I don’t have a licence. Therefore, there is a zero guarantee on my life during night shifts”, another security guard of a nationalised bank’s ATM said.
“Security in ATMs is outsourced at all places. Perhaps, it is the responsibility of the security agencies to train the guards. Security guards should be trained and well-equipped”, Joint Commissioner of Police B K Singh said.
He also added that the CCTVs, installed inside most ATMs, are not working.
This aspect should be seriously looked into by the respective banks, he stated.