Close on the heels of two successive bank heists in the region in the recent past, banks in Jharkhand’s Tamar block are busy enhancing their security cover. No, they are not deploying modern gadgets or arming their securitymen with automatic weapons, but have fallen back on arms that might appear rather anachronistic.

Authorities attached with State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB), Union Bank of India, Jharkhand Gramin Bank, Bank of India and Jharkhand Co-operative Bank here have armed their security personnel with weapons like catapults, sickles, bows and arrows, putting question mark on the banks' security in Jharkhand.
PNB Branch Manager Krishna Ram said: “The whole idea is to ensure that there is something rather than nothing on the security front. Barely a few months back, we had lathidhari (lathi-wielding) security personnel. But as they proved to be too weak to take on the criminals who looted Rs 67, 895 (on June 29, 2007), we have now armed them with bows and arrows among other weapons.”

But would these arms be of use in taking on looters brandishing sophisticated weapons? Echoing the popular mood of the security personnel, Shivnath Mahto says, “Bhagwan jaane” (Only God knows that). Conceding that the security is inadequate, officials said this should be seen only as a stop-gap arrangement.

“After all, the security of banks and safety of customers are our prime concern,” they maintained.

Senior IPS officer and Advisor (Jharkhand police) R K Mullick said: “Jharkhand being a huge state, police will not be able to provide fool-proof security to banks located in rural and remote areas. Yet, we have directed station in-charges to step up patrolling near banks in their limits during working hours. We have also asked banks to reinforce their security cover using modern electronic gadgets.”