Unable to get money, 2 drunk youths vent anger on ATMs

Angry over the machine not dispensing cash, two inebriated youths allegedly vandalised two automated teller machines in Kasba Peth and also beat up a 65-year-old security guard in the wee hours of Sunday. The two ATMs were of Axis and DCB banks located close to the Kasba Peth police chowky.

The incident once again brings the ATM centres’ security to the fore. 

While the guard posted at the Axis bank ATM was too old to fight the two youths, the the DCB ATM did not have a guard only. As per RBI guidelines, a guard at every ATM is mandatory.

The incident took place between 3.45 am and 5.30 am, but came to light only around 7 am when the horrified security guard Baban Gondhale finally gathered courage to the police.

“As per the information given by the security guard, the two youths were drunk. One of them had covered his face with a handkerchief. They tried to withdraw money from the Axis bank ATM, but somehow did not get money,” senior police inspector, Bhanupratap Barge of Faraskhana police station said.

He said that the two then went to DCB ATM adjacent to it. When they didn’t get money there too, they tried to break the ATM machine with a stone. They then came out, picked up an iron pipe stormed into the Axis bank ATM. They pushed the security guard inside the sub cabin, where one of them held him back while the other damaged the screen of the machine.

“The entire incident has been captured in the CCTV cameras installed at the ATMs. The suspects, after the unsuccessful attempts, fled the spot around 5.30 am,” Barge said.