Bhubaneswar, May 20: Most of the ATMs across the state have become easy prey to the miscreants as these kiosks lack proper safeguard mechanism.
Despite Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) guidelines that there should be caretakers at the ATM kiosks to prevent tampering with the machines, the direction was not complied with by most of the banking institutions.
According to sources, there are 6,605 ATMs across the state of which 80 per cent run without guards.
The situation in Capital city is worrisome as police sources revealed that around 250 ATMs in the city do not have guards.
This year, three cases of ATM loot reported in the city and all these kiosks were found to be unguarded.
Apart from absence of guards there some other security lapses at the ATMs. The access log facility has been withdrawn from all the ATMs wherein a customer has to swipe the card on the door to get an entry. The door lock opens only after recognition of the cardholder.
Following a recent surge in ATM loots at Cuttack, Puri and Bhubaneswar, police held a meeting with senior officials of RBI, banks and service providers March 5 this year. The banks were advised to take certain steps like guarding the ATMs, making control rooms functional 24/7 and were provided with contact numbers of senior police officers in twin cities so that they can be informed immediately if any abnormal activities are seen at the kiosks.
They were also advised to take technical measures to prevent ATM hacking.
“We have advised them to deploy guards at the ATMs but it’s their choice,” said twin cities Police Commissioner YB Khurania.
Significantly, the task of technical maintenance of the ATMs has been assigned to private players, which are hired on a contractual basis.
RBI officials said the security issues are dealt with by bank officials. It’s their choice whether they would hire a security guard for the ATMs or not.
Big heists
May 15, 2017: Rs 12 lakh looted from an ATM in Jatni
February 28, 2017: Rs 17 lakh looted from an ATM near High Court in Cuttack
May 2, 2013: Rs 33 lakh looted from an ATM in Tangi
Nov 4, 2011: Miscreants uproot an ATM in Berhampur
Sept 14, 2011: An ATM was vandalised in Sahid Nagar in Bhubaneswar (PNN)
