Two men attempted to break open an ATM of ICICI Bank at Tigalarapalya in Tavarekere police limits in the early hours of Saturday. The duo allegedly threw chilli powder into the eyes of the security guard to keep him at bay.
According to the complaint lodged by the guard, Basavaraj (40), the duo entered the kiosk around 2.30 a.m. Their faces were covered. They cut the wires of the CCTV cameras installed inside and outside the kiosk. Basavaraj was sleeping inside. He woke up when he felt a blow on the back of his head. One of the men had allegedly struck his head with an iron rod while the other flung chilli powder into his eyes. While he was screaming in agony, the duo tried to break the ATM. Basavaraj rushed out of the kiosk crying for help. A guard, Prakash, deployed at a nearby complex rushed to his aid. By the time Prakash reached the kiosk, the thieves had fled. He rushed Basavaraj to a hospital and alerted the police.
Basavaraj sustained head injuries. He is said to be in shock, but out of danger.
Police officers said the thieves managed to cut the screen of the ATM, but were not able to steal cash. They pointed out that there was no alarm system in the kiosk.
City Police Commissioner Raghavendra H Auradkar had issued a directive to all banks to install CCTV cameras and an alarm system at every kiosk apart from mandatory deployment of security guards.
Last week, an attempt was made to break open an ATM in Chikkajala.
