Davanagere Police Demand Urgent Restoration of Bank Security After 13 Crore Gold Robbery | Hubballi News

Haveri: In response to a meticulously planned robbery at SBI’s Nyamati branch, Davanagere police Stringent security upgrades have been mandated for banks. Financial institutions and ATMs must implement modern CCTV systems, sensors and alarm mechanisms within two weeks to prevent similar incidents.
Davanagere police have intensified their efforts following the theft of gold worth Rs 13 billion from the State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Nyamati town. The case presented significant difficulties for investigators, as the criminals managed to avoid leaving traces at the scene. This situation caused law enforcement to issue stern warnings to bank officials.
Police chief Uma Prashant criticized inadequate security arrangements at nationalized banks in the district. He noted that most banks operate with outdated CCTV systems and alarms and are reluctant to upgrade their security infrastructure. “All banks and their branches should have well-equipped security materials for security purposes in the next 15 days,” he instructed in a recent meeting with bankers.
He revealed that police inspections of nationalized and private bank branches across the region revealed significant security deficiencies. Many locations lack modern surveillance equipment, and branch managers often miss alarm notifications. Similar inadequacies are observed in the security regulations of ATM facilities. SP Uma said, “CCTV and DVR should be placed at different places in branches, DVRs should not be placed in public places and cameras should be installed to cover the entire bank premises.” he advised.
The SP highlighted that professional thieves, who often come from outside the state, pose a serious threat. He emphasized that inefficient security measures complicate investigative efforts. “All bankers must follow the guidelines within 15 days to maintain public confidence in banks,” he added.
Deputy commissioner GM Gangadharaswamy said, “Banking security system should improve further because people strongly believe in it. If the banking system loses faith, how can people maintain their faith in the system?”
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Two foreigners visited Nyamati branch before the theft
Davanagere police found that two persons from outside the state had visited SBI’s Nyamati branch before the theft and made inquiries regarding account opening. One person was from Bihar and the other from Tamil Nadu. They approached branch staff about opening accounts in savings banks. However, bank officials stated that an account cannot be opened without a local residence address. Police have now received this lead and are working to locate these individuals.