Banks asked to appoint security guards at all ATMs

In the wake of recent heists from two ATMs here, the district administration on Sunday directed bank officials to appoint security guards at their ATMs otherwise branch manager will be held responsible in eventuality of any thefts in the future.

District Magistrate K K Yadav said, "Under section 144 of CrPC all the banks have been asked to recruit security guards at their ATMs."

The branch manager will be held responsible for ATM thefts in future, if the banks fail to follow the instruction, he added. Yadav further said that the banks have been asked not to open any ATM without authorisation from district administration.

The commissionerate and rural police have also been informed about the new directives, he said.

In last fortnight about Rs 15 lakh have been looted from the ATMs of Punjab National Bank and the State Bank of India.