Mangaluru, Nov 28: Despite the directive of the district administration and police department to implement necessary security measures in cooperative banks in coastal Karnataka and neighbouring Kasargod district, the lack of suitable safety measures have given easy access of valuables assets kept in these banks to scheming burglars.
Although the police department has been giving constant reminders to financial institutions and temples to implement necessary security and safety measures inside and around their premises, several cooperative banks have neglected to implement these safety measures, which has lead to burglaries in banks and theft of valuable assets worth crores of rupees.
The first directive given to owners of cooperative banks by police officials is to secure the building which houses the institution. However, the safety guidelines have been neglected by most banks in Dakshina Kannada district.
Moreover, they have failed to provide security arrangements including security personnel and CCTV cameras at the entrance of these banks, which has eased the way for burglars or bank robbers.
In a time span of one year, there have been two major thefts in cooperative banks in Dakshina Kannada district. On January 12 of this year, there was a theft of valuables from Bhagavati Cooperative Bank in B C Road, while burglars made away with assets worth over Rs 4.5 crore from S K Goldsmith cooperative bank in Kinnigoli on November 20.
There was another major theft in Chervatthur in Kasargod district. After the burglaries occurred, the investigating police officers are at a loss without video footage or other evidence to pursue the culprits.
No security guards
While nationalised and private commercial banks normally have security personnel deployed in their premises, most cooperative banks have neglected to appoint security guards for themselves. Intending to avoid extra expenditure, these banks have not allotted funds necessary for implementing safety guidelines. Hence, no security guards have been deployed, no CCTV cameras have been installed and no security measures have been ensured by these banks.
In the Bhagavati cooperative bank in Bantwal, absence of CCTV cameras and negligence in securing the windows have facilitated the burglary to a large extent. Although CCTV cameras had been installed at S K Goldsmith cooperative bank in Kinnigoli, they were within easy access for the burglars. Such blunders by the bank authorised have facilitated the robberies that occurred in their premises.
In this regard, several meetings with bank officials have been held by Dakshina Kannada district police department under the leadership of Superintendent of Police Dr S D Sharanappa, to ensure that all commercial, nationalised and cooperative banks in their limits have implemented basic security measures for their financial institutions.
However, such meetings are yet to be held for banks in Mangaluru Police Commissionerate limits.
Also Read:
Valuables worth Rs 6 crore stolen from BC Road bank in daring robbery
Daylight bank heist in Kasaragod: 21 gold, Rs 13 lakh cash looted
Mangaluru: Cash, valuables worth Rs 5 cr. burgled from bank at Kinnigoli
Comments
Add new comment