Gajapati: Despite repeated instructions to heighten security around ATMs, lukewarm response of banks has made people easy target of miscreants. A case in point is the loot through ATM at Mohana in the district that came to fore on Wednesday.
As per reports, on February 1, Jitendra Sahu of Mohana had gone to withdraw cash from the SBI ATM near Mohana bazar area here when some unidentified miscreants entered the ATM and snatched his debit card. They allegedly withdrew over Rs 2,00,000 from Sahu’s account.
“The miscreants have withdrawn a total of Rs 2,38,500 from my account between February 1 and 5. Money has also been transferred to the account of one Simadri Behera from my account,” alleged Sahu.
Sahu approached the SBI Branch office in the region to block his debit card and also lodged a police complaint. However, the police are yet to nab the miscreants.
While the SBI officials have assured to take appropriate steps in this regard, police said that the investigation is on to nab the miscreants.
Lack of security guards at the ATMs is making people vulnerable to such loots, said Mohana IIC Prashant Behera.
"We have asked the banks in the region to deploy security guards and install high quality CCTVs at the ATMs to avoid such incidents. Besides, we have sought CCTV footages from the bank following which we will take further action," Behera said.
Earlier on January 29, unidentified miscreants had reportedly withdrawn Rs 58,000 through the card of a youth on gunpoint at one of the ATM counters in the district.