A security guard posted at the Union Bank’s ATM centre in KR Puram was found murdered with his hands and legs tied on Sunday morning.
Though the CCTV footage indicate that the intruder had smashed the ATM with an iron rod, the police said the guard could have been murdered over personal rivalry and a probe was on.
The victim was identified as Minat Utta B, 25, a native of Assam and a resident of Mahadevapura here. The murder said to have taken place around 3.30 am came to light only in the evening. DCP (East) N Satheesh Kumar said: “The assailant had tied Minat’s hands and legs after attacking him on his head. Later, he pasted a tape on Minat’s mouth to ensure that he did not scream for help.”
Minat was sleeping inside the ATM centre located on the first floor. He woke up around 3.30 am as he heard someone approaching the kisok. He opened the door and came out. As soon as he stepped out of the ATM centre, the assailant who was standing close to the door, attacked him on the head with an iron rod, said the police.
Minat collapsed on the floor due to heavy internal bleeding and fell unconscious. The assailant dragged the body out of the ATM centre and dumped it on the staircase. He came back after some time and entered the ATM centre. He attempted to break open the kiosk with a rod. However, he gave up the attempt after a couple of minutes and vanished, said the police.
Incident unnoticed
A board that indicated that the ATM was out of service was hung to the door. Moreover, as it was a Sunday, the incident went unnoticed. A few persons spotted the security guard’s body on the staircase around 6 pm and checked on it. They alerted the police.
“We are examining the CCTV footage to collect more leads. The movement of the assailant is highly suspicious. He just made the attempt to destroy the kiosk for a couple of minutes and immediately disappeared. Hence, the intention behind the murder could not be an attempt to loot the cash, but something else,” said a senior police officer.
Minat came to Bengaluru two years ago to eke out a living. He was hired by First Man Management Services Private Limited as a security guard. Two months ago, the agency posted him at the ATM centre of Vijinapura branch of Union Bank, near the KR Puram railway station, said the police.
Minat’s brother also works in Bengaluru. The police are questioning him to ascertain details. The police are verifying mobile phone call details of Minat, said the police.