Police pull up banks, call for more security

Senior Superintendent of Police R K Jaiswal said he had recently held a meeting with representatives of various banks after the unsuccessful robbery attempt at Tagore Nagar branch of the Oriental Bank of Commerce. Last year, two unidentified youths had snatched Rs seven lakh from the employees of same bank on gunpoint.

Jaiswal said all the banks had been asked to install the sirens, as at many of the banks sirens did not work, when miscreants barged into the premises. Banks had also been asked to inform the police in advance when their security guards were going on leave so that alternative security may be provided to them. In March 2006, a survey was conducted on local banks of Ludhiana, which had found many banks were not following the police directives to ensure safety. For example, at a bank, a security guard was found counting the cash instead of standing at the entry point, while another guard had gone to get some papers xeroxed.

Cases of bank robbery

October 10, 2008: Unsuccessful attempt to theft at Oriental Bank of Commerce OBC, Tagore Nagar branch.

September 2007: From the same bank, two unidentified armed youths snatched nearly Rs seven lakh from employees.

February 16, 2005: Unsuccessful attempt at Salem Tabri branch of OBC. Miscreants tried to cut the vault by a gas cutter.

January 30, 2005: Unknown thieves enter Madhopuri branch of Central Bank. Use gas cutter to open the locker, could not succeed.

January 12, 2005: PCR team foiled a robbery at the Ferozepur Road branch of Bank of Allahabad.