Dera Bassi bank branches without security guards

Satinder Pal Singh

Dera Bassi, June 19 

It seems that banks located in the town have not learnt any lesson from the cases of ATM breaks and thefts in the past. Despite the ATMs thefts successful or attempted, a few banks in the city are working without a security guard.

According to the sources, four of the 24 branches of different banks in the city have been dealing in money related activities without  any gunman.

A reality check unearthed glaring gaps in the security set up with a number of banks, not even having a single security guard at the entrance. Branches of Punjab National Bank, Indian Bank, Union Bank and UCO Bank continue to work without security guards.

One of the officials from the Union bank on the condition of anonymity said the branch had opened six years ago in Dera Bassi and had not provided any security guard to the branch.

Branch Manager of PNB at Dera Bassi, said “There is no security guard deployed with the bank and outside ATM, further stating that it is up to the higher authorities to deploy a security guard as per the policy of the bank, adding that if they felt any need to deploy the guard they will do it.

Interestingly, one can easily witness people flouting the instructions that the doors of the ATMs bear. As per the instructions, there should be a single person in the cabin to do instant banking. While at times over three persons can be seen standing inside the cabin waiting for their turn in any of the ATM site in the city.

Most of the bank ATMs in the constituency no longer dispenses cash round-the-clock. Banks have started shutting down ATMs at night where usage is low at night. 

Mohinder Singh, SHO, Dera Bassi said generally, it is the duty of the banks to guard its kiosks, adding that the police have already instructed banks to update the CCTV cameras, check alarm gadgets and intimate police before bringing cash to banks. We are willing to provide possible help.

Cases of ATM, bank break-ins 

• June 17, 2018- Unidentified miscreants unsuccessfully tried to break an ATM of SBI at Amlala village 
• April 15, 2018- Masked men entered the PNB by drilling a hole in a wall and decamped with gadgets.
• March 20, 2018- An attempt to break an ATM of an Indian Overseas Bank branch was made in Lalru
• January 29, 2018-The police have booked unidentified persons for uprooting an ATM installed  on the Zirakpur-Patiala road
• December 11, 2017- Around Rs 9 lakh went missing from an ATM branch of the ICICI Bank at Mubarikpur 
• August 27, 2017- An unsuccessful attempt was made to loot cash from SBI, Zirakpur.
• October 16, 2016- Miscreants took away an ATM containing Rs 18.43 at Dappar, Lalru. 
• August 7, 2016- An attempt to break an ATM machine at SBI was made at Lalru.
• February 13, 2016- Four unidentified miscreants allegedly decamped with Rs 9 lakh after breaking open  an ATM of the Central Bank of India branch at Bhabhat village  in Zirakpur