Another ATM robbery bid foiled

 Despite security being tightened, two masked men broke into an ICICI Bank ATM kiosk at Tigalarapalya, off Magadi Road, around 2:30 am on Saturday.

They assaulted the security guard with an iron rod and attempted to break open the ATM. They did not succeed in stealing the cash as the injured guard screamed for help, forcing the miscreants to flee. Tigalarapalya falls under the jurisdiction of the Tavarekere police station in Ramanagara district.

Police sources said Basavaraj (40), the security guard, was sleeping in the kiosk when the two men barged in. They disconnected wires of two CCTV cameras, one outside and another inside the kiosk. Basavaraj told the police that he woke up after being hit on the head by an iron rod. One miscreant also threw chilli powder at his face.

As he was recovering from the sudden attack, the duo tried to break open the ATM with an iron rod.

The miscreants cut open the display screen, but couldn’t lay their hands on the cash safe. As Basavaraj rushed out of the kiosk screaming for help, another security guard, Prakash, posted at a commercial complex nearby, rushed to his help. The miscreants fled before Prakash reached the kiosk.

Prakash alerted the local police and rushed Basavaraj to a nearby private hospital, where he is undergoing treatment. Basavaraj sustained head injuries. Anupam Agarwal, Superintendent of Police, Ramanagara, told Deccan Herald that the guard was still in a state of shock, but was out of danger.

The Tavarekere police have registered a case. Agarwal said initial investigations indicated involvement of a professional gang.