Thirty branches of nationalised banks and 65 cooperative banks, which have been identified as vulnerable to threats in the district, have been directed to put in place security systems.
The move comes a week after the midnight heist in the unguarded Kundarapalli branch of Bank of Baroda with burglars decamping with over 6,035 sovereigns of mortgaged jewellery.
According to T. Rudrappa, Lead Bank Manager, the 30 branches have been identified as vulnerable based on their location. Each of these banks will have to appoint a security guard either through agencies or through the Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare. “Ex-servicemen could be recruited. Banks have been asked to revamp their security alarms and surveillance cameras to make them functional.” A compliance report will made at a meeting scheduled for the first week of February.
Earlier, Superintendent of Police Kannammal told The Hindu that as a temporary solution, the village vigilance committees could be summoned on an ad hoc basis to assist some local branches in isolated areas or border outposts.
“There are extremely isolated branches in places such as Denkanikottai, where threat remains even with a guard in place. In such cases, village vigilance committees could offer manpower to support the local banks,” Ms. Kannammal said.
In the meantime, the police have put up night patrols alongside assistance from Friends of Police.
Mr. Rudrappa said that the banks generally do not appoint guards for ATMs to cut down on expenditure. Banks have guards only in high risk areas. Earlier, the administration had directed closure of ATMs in remote and rural areas with less than five transactions. Such ATMs should down shutters by 10 p.m. and could open for operations after 6 a.m.
False alarm causes flutter
Even as the security systems of banks and ATMs are being deliberated, a false alarm caused a flutter among the police and people alike at Hanumanthatheertham in Uthangarai on Friday. The India One ATM was left unlocked by the ATM maintenance person giving it an appearance of being tampered with. However, when contacted, the Uthangarai police said no complaint was made, and the ATM maintenance personnel confirmed their own lapse.
