Fix caution boards against attention diversion: Cops

Additional SP meets bank representatives to check crime

Following rise in attention diversion cases in banks, additional SP P Venkataswamy on Friday appealed to the banks to display caution boards both inside and outside the premises, for the benefit of innocent customers.

He was addressing the representatives of various banks and also police personnel at a meeting convened at police public school in the city. The meeting follows a missive from the office of ADGP, criminal investigation department (CID) to convene a coordination meeting with bank officers regarding fake currency notes, ATM thefts among others.

K R Nagar circle police inspector M S Pavan Kumar and his Hunsur counterpart G S Gajendra Prasad referred such cases, especially that of Karnataka Bank, D Devaraj Urs road branch, where a gang of 29 from Trichy in Tamil Nadu had decamped with Rs 23.5 lakh in cash. The accused had succeeded in diverting the attention of the cashier, before the heist.

The additional SP who took cognisance of the case, asked the banks to install such caution boards telling the customers about the modus  operandi deployed by the perpetrators to divert the attention. “Those with criminal intention may either throw the  filth on gullible customers or draw their attention towards a currency note,” the officer added. The police officer also had a call to his men instructing them to develop a rapport with the bank authorities in their limits and hold a meeting once in every three months to be abreast of happenings. He said that it would also instil fear among perpetrators.

The officer also assured to take note of the request from the banks especially Cauvery Kalpatharu Grameena Bank (CKGB) to install electronic beat equipment to enable police on night patrolling to register their visits. He also allayed the fear among the bank officers that they are subjected to unnecessary harassment in  the name of investigation, especially in the case of fake currency notes.

Hurry

DySP of criminal investigation department (CID) Mysore, Mahesh brought it to the notice of the additional SP that the banks will be in a tearing hurry to dispose off the fake currency notes.

In his reply, a bank officer said it follows instructions  from the authorities in the bank itself, to avoid prolonged investigation from the police. The additional SP advised the banks to instead file a complaint. He informed that they (bank personnel) will be summoned once or twice for identifying the accused.

Earlier a bank officer wanted to know whether there are possibilities of linking the burglar alarm with nearby police stations. Also, to provide the service of armed police men to escort heavy cash from one place to another. They brought it to the notice of police that unauthorised persons are in the possession of duplicated rubber stamps and letter heads of the bank. He also suggested that the banks should install burglar alarms at ATMs too to avoid thefts.

Lead bank, chief manager, State Bank of Mysore, M B Chinnappa, senior manager, Corporation Bank, zonal office, K Ravindranath Naik and chief manager, Vijaya Bank, regional office, Pitambar Samantara were present.

Police tips

* Furnish information on staff
* Instruct security guards at ATMs not to entertain outsiders, especially during night hours
* Inform police in case of fake currency notes

From banks

* Install e-beat systems
* Don’t harass in name of investigation
* Increasing number of unauthorised persons