This Article is From Dec 01, 2010

Low bank security in city a worry: Jaipur police

Jaipur: For banks in Jaipur, it seems security is the last thing on their priority list. Reason: More than 47% banks in Jaipur have not deployed guards while around 40% banks have not installed close circuit televisions (CCTVs) despite repeated reminders by the police.

According to the latest report prepared by Jaipur police on bank security, State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur (SBBJ), with 85 branches, has CCTVs in only 60 branches and 54 guards. Jaipur Thar Gramin Bank, which stands second with 65 branches, has only one security guard and CCTVs in only 13 branches.

IG (Jaipur range 1), BL Soni, said that despite the police's repeated reminders and increasing robbery incidents, banks  have failed to upgrade security arrangements. Though police are doing their task, banks too need to strengthen security system to check such incidents, he said.

He said that there are 66 banks with 616 branches in Jaipur range 1 but 236 branches have not installed CCTVs and 290 branches have not deployed guards. "We have been writing to the banks to deploy armed guards for security but most of them have not complied with the norms," he added.

Citing an example of another bank, the official said that Punjab National Bank, which houses a chest where RBI money is stored, has deployed only 10 guards for its 44 branches in Jaipur. Such inadequate security measures make the job easy for such gangs, which conduct recce before conducting crime, he added.

Another police official said that police held several meetings with the bank officials on safety measures. "We have stepped up patrolling near the banks but at the same time banks must also ensure that security system is in place," he said.

More shocking is that many reputed banks have compromised with security on the pretext of a lesser budget. Many banks had claimed to have installed CCTV but during checks it was found that these equipments were not functional. However, the meetings between police and banks authorities never seem to bear fruit, as the banks have not implemented any of these guidelines.

Even the staff of banks, which were recently targeted by the criminals, expressed concern over administrative negligence regarding security and said that management should at least take initiative for security of their employees who face direct encounter with the criminals during such incidents.

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