Guards caught off guard

Three days after the brutal attack on a woman drawing money from a ATM kiosk, the security at some of the kiosks was found wanting. While some were bereft of guards, some more had guards sleeping inside the kiosks.

“ As early as 11 pm many of the guards posted at ATMs are found sleeping, said a policeman who was on his night patrol. The scene was no different at many major junctions in the City like Kasturba road, NR Circle, KG Road, City Railway station and Majestic, when this reporter did a reality check on Wednesday night.

The guards at Ahmedabad Bank and Axis Bank ATM near Mysore Bank Circle were found in deep sleep, wrapped in thick blankets. 

A guard, when woken up, said: "We work elsewhere in the morning and double up as guards during the night. We fall asleep in the night since we are exhausted due to day’s work,” he said.

The Canara bank ATM at Town Hall was also found unguarded. “Around 50 people visit this ATM every day. Earlier there was a security guard appointed from a private agency. But, no one has been posted here since he left. After the recent incident, the officials are planning to post a guard by Friday,” said Chowdappa, a security guard on the premises.

Asleep

Security guards at most of the ATMs near the Railway Station were found asleep. A 65-year-old guard at an ATM said, "I am working to sustain myself since my children have thrown me out of the house. I fractured my leg six months ago in an accident. Hence I sit and guard the ATM.”

A policeman attached to Upparpet police station said that the constables go around every hour waking up the guards at ATMs.

“They are not equipped with arms and we don’t know how will they handle a situation when they are attacked," he said.