Top cop confirms security lapses

Hyderabad: Investigators who inspected the Andhra Bank branch at Ghatkesar concluded that the burglary on Sunday was due to negligence of the bank management as it had failed to put in place a security apparatus as suggested by the Cyberabad Police.

Cyberabad Commissioner C V Anand informed the media that the management had ignored several guidelines suggested by the Reserve Bank of India for safeguarding valuables mortgaged and stored in the bank. According to the RBI rules, these valuables were supposed to have to be stored in high-quality strong rooms, but they were kept in normal metal almirahs, which had helped burglars in executing their plan with ease.

He said that managements of all banks in Cyberabad limits were asked to install adequate security measures on their premises. They were asked to set up trained security guards with licensed weapons for guarding the bank and ATM premises round-the-clock, set up night-vision cameras, an alarm with sensor system to detect any effort to rob the bank or ATM and a host of other suggestions.

A meeting was recently held at the Cyberabad commissionerate in which officials from all banks participated and agreed to take suitable security measures by February 15. The police also informed officials that cases would be booked against the bank managements if they failed to set up the security measures.The Police Commissioner said another meeting would be convened with the bank managements on February 24 to discuss the issue of security at banks.