Much to the relief of banks, the city police have agreed to give them more time to install closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras and alarm systems in their ATM kiosks.
City Police Commissioner Raghavendra H. Auradkar said he would not compromise on the issue of posting security guards, but had decided to give banks 45 days for installation of CCTV cameras and alarm systems. “Bank officials approached us requesting more time as they would need to invite tenders for installing cameras and alarm systems,” he said.
Orders will be issued soon.
“We will continue to close those ATMs that do not have a security guard. I am exempting ATMs in malls, educational institutions and clubs from deploying security guards. The exemption is applicable in places where one level of security is already provided at the entrance,” he said.
So far, the police have shut down at least 1,137 ATMs in the city. The Commissioner said some banks had approached them requesting that ATMs be reopened, as they had complied with the security directives.
Meanwhile, the police are continuing their search for the assailant across towns bordering Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Police said they were coordinating with the Andhra Pradesh police after they found that the assailant had used the ATM card of the other victim, Pramilamma, at two places in Anantapur after attacking her in Dharmavaram. The police also visited Hindupur after Jyothi’s cellphone was traced there.
