If one is shocked to learn about incidents of crime inside an ATM (Automated Teller Machine), then his concern is not unfounded as most of ATMs in the State Capital have been left at the mercy of a poorly equipped security guard besides pathetic security mechanism inside counter.
Shockingly, at more than 70 ATMs across the capital, a security guard is not equipped with anything to thwart an attack similar to that inside an ATM in Bangalore in which an armed miscreant brutally assaulted a woman and fled the spot unharmed. Even security guards posted outside an ATM also rued absence of any equipment for self-defense and seem helpless in certain situations.
“We protect an ATM with one baton which is hardly effective against gun totting criminals,” said Nakul Sharma, a guard posted outside a private bank in Kanke Road.
In the absence of any specific guidelines on equipping a security guard with arms most of the banks usually leave the decision at the agencies empanelled for protecting the ATM. “An armed guard would be more costly. Besides guards work in shift which makes it difficult for an agency to equip them with arms,” disclosed Security Manager of a public sector bank.
Notably, according to sources, some banks even pay close to Rs 10,000 for deploying a security guard outside an ATM counter but strangely a guard has nothing at except own mobile phone to communicate to concerned authorities for seeking help during emergency.
“During summer many people enter inside an ATM while guidelines stipulate that only one person should be allowed at one point of time. But people do not listen to us. Even banks do nothing in this regard,” said a security guard posted outside an ATM of a renowned public sector bank in Tharpakhna.
While banks have put in place excellent infrastructure to prevent attacks on cyberspace they have done little to strengthen security mechanisms installed at their ATMs. Interestingly an audit conducted by Jharkhand police few months back had exposed that safety measures like access control in banks like State Bank of India are for namesake at most of the counter while CCTVs (Close Circuit Television Camera) do not work when an ATM runs out of power supply.
“The safety measures are cosmetic in nature. There is no back-up power supply for CCTVs, access controls and worse, we found that some guards had placed someone else at their place,” said Vineet, Chief Technology Officer of Jharkhand Police.
Even as banks have turned a blind eye to vital aspects of security, the police have also lagged behind in securing areas around bank ATMs. Contrary to the directive issued by district police a few days back, vehicle borne police personnel could not be found anywhere close to an ATM.
Significantly, police, which until now had restricted its role in providing security near ATMs is likely to ask banks to station one security guard outside the money dispensing machine during night.
“I don’t see guards outside an ATM during night. So, in the next monthly meeting with bank officials we will table the suggestion and ask them to deploy one guard at their ATM counter,” said DIG Ranchi Sheetal Oraon.