With just over a week left for banks in the City to put in place fool-proof security measures in their Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) as recommended by the Chennai City Police, a lot remains to be done in a very short while.
In the wake of an attack on a woman at an ATM in Bangalore and thefts in Chennai, police had at a meeting with top banking officials on December 2, advised them to put in place certain security measures by January 4.
SuggestionsA senior police official said that the following suggestions were made.
All ATMs should have security guards; quality cameras should be installed inside as well as outside ATM kiosks; restricted entry into ATMs through smart cards; only one person should be allowed inside kiosks at a time, even if there are multiple machines.
Police officials had also suggested removal of stickers or sun-control films from glass partition.
M. Narendra, Chairman and Managing Director, Indian Overseas Bank, said that all their ATMs have CCTV cameras and automatic locking system in their shutters, which, once opened, cannot be closed by unauthorised persons.
To a query about Chennai police’s instruction on posting security guards at all ATMs, he said personnel have been posted wherever required.
He pointed out that they have complied with all Reserve Bank of India norms.
