Follow safety guidelines or else keep offices shut, CP tells firms

Nikhil Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 18

In the wake of loot of 30-kg gold from India Infoline Finance Limited (IIFL) in the city, Ludhiana Police Commissioner Rakesh Agrawal today convened an emergency meeting of gold loan firms, jewellers, and money changers and issued strict safety guidelines to prevent such incidents in future.

Agrawal categorically told the owners to implement the guidelines or else keep their business shut till the time compliance is ensured.

Yesterday, four armed robbers looted 30 kg of gold worth Rs 12 crore from IIFL on Gill Road after holding the company staff hostage. The robbers had come in a white Ciaz car on which they had put up a fake number plate.

Agrawal said the security system of the IIFL company was not up to the mark. They had also not kept any armed security guards at the entrance or inside the premises, and their alarm system was also not up to the mark.

“Till the time these gold loan companies, jewellers and money changers or money transfer shops do not follow the guidelines, we have asked them not to open their branches in Ludhiana till further orders,” he said.

Instructions issued by police

• Security guards on 24-hour duty.
• Surveillance camera with dual storage system, including one hidden storage.
• All cameras should be HD quality.
• Fire alarm system.
• Smoke-detection system.
• Access-control system.
• Video-surveillance monitoring.
• Burglar alarm and monitoring (panic buttons should be there at location reachable to staff).
• Training to all staff in how to operate the security systems.
• Robbery-alarm system.
• Metal detectors at doors.
• Chip-enabled ID cards for authorised persons.
• Glass-break sensors.

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