JOIN USThe attack on Jyothi Uday inside the Corporation Bank ATM centre at NR Square on JC Road opened up a debate on security measures at ATM centres in the city.
In fact, the incident forced the city police to seriously think of some measures to prevent crimes inside the centres.
Soon after the incident, the then police commissioner Raghavendra Auradkar issued safety guidelines on November 28, 2013, directing the banks to deploy guards, instal burglar alarms and CCTV cameras outside the kiosks.
The police decided to strictly implement the order after Mohammad Munavvar, 28, a native of Assam, threatened nursing student Nayana and her friend Aishwarya at knifepoint as they stepped out of the Punjab National Bank ATM near Ambedkar Bhavan in Vasanthnagar on December 5, 2013.
The police held a series of meetings with heads of banks and wanted them to deploy guards, instal burglar alarms and CCTV cameras outside the kiosks. The police had also set a deadline to comply with the guidelines. The bank heads expressed helplessness in following the guidelines considering additional financial burden.
The police ordered closures of hundreds of ATM centres across the city as they failed to comply with the guidelines. However, heads of the banks fell in place and implemented the safety guidelines.
Surveys
The police conducted random surveys to ascertain if guidelines were in place for some time. Due to staff shortage and various others issues, the police stopped the survey.
There are about 8,500 ATM kiosks in the city and its outskirts. A recent survey indicated that about 25% of the ATMs in and around the city still have no guards, burglar alarms and CCTV cameras outside the kiosks.
The police have been maintaining that security at the kiosks is bank’s responsibility and the police come into picture if there is any crime.
Rs 10 lakh prize likely for cop
The constable who detained Madhukar Reddy, the man who had attacked Jyothi Uday inside an ATM centre on NR Square on November 19, 2013, at Madanapalli seems to have won jackpot. The constable may get a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh for catching Reddy.
“The city police had announced a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh to a person catching the assailant or giving any information leading to his arrest. The constable had caught Reddy in connection with a different case. However, it led to the cracking of the ATM attack case. Hence, he is eligible for the prize as per norms,” a senior officer, who headed the investigation team in the past told DH.