- Crisis In Indian Banking Leads to Work Pressure and Driving Employees To Despair, Commit Extreme Steps
- Toxic work culture on the rise in banks
- 5DaysBanking: Bankers Urgently Demand 2 Days Off Per Week
- Banks see over 15% growth in new credit card addition: RBI data
- Banks Transfer ₹37,176 Crore to RBI’s Depositor Education and Awareness Fund in Last 3 Years
- Calls for Bankers’ Safety Amplified After Video of SBI Branch Manager Attack Goes Viral
- Nainital Bank Faces Privatisation Move Amid Staff Protests
- Whistleblowers Expose Nexus Operating from Three Banks
- Preserving RRBs: AIRRBEA Defends Rural Banking Against AIBOC-AIBEA Merger Proposals
- Union Bank of India’s new directive for weekend work at Retail Loan Points (RLPs) has sparked outrage among bankers
Security Lapses Allow Robbers to Spend 2 Hours Inside Indian Overseas Bank, Looting 42 Lockers
The burglars broke through the bank’s wall and looted 42 lockers, stealing jewelry and valuables worth several crores. According to the latest report, the police encountered the robbers on Monday morning, during which one of the accused was shot in the leg and apprehended, while two others managed to escape.
Author: Kanal English Desk
Published: December 23, 2024
A major robbery took place at the Indian Overseas Bank in the Sinhaat area of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. Initial reports suggest that a gang of four was involved in the heist. They identified that the bank would be unoccupied on Saturday and seized the opportunity to break through the side wall of the building. The gang spent approximately 1.5 to 2 hours inside the bank and looted 42 out of the bank’s 90 lockers using electric cutters.
The incident came to light on Sunday afternoon when a local shopkeeper noticed a hole in the bank's side wall while passing by an empty plot behind the bank. He promptly alerted the police in the Sinhaat area, who initiated a thorough investigation and deployed multiple teams to track the culprits.
Police Intervention
Lucknow (East) DCP Shashank Singh reported that during a vehicle check near Laulai’s water bridge on Monday morning, police intercepted two suspicious cars. When officers attempted to stop the vehicles, one suspect fired a pistol and tried to escape into nearby fields. In retaliation, police shot and injured him, leading to his capture, while the others fled.
Security Lapses in the Bank
The robbery exposed significant security lapses at the bank. There was no security guard on duty, and while six CCTV cameras were installed, only one recorded the thieves, with others poorly positioned to monitor the strong room. The alarm system had been disabled by the thieves cutting its wires. Experts noted that a functional alarm system should have been activated even during tampering, raising doubts about its prior condition. Lucknow Eastern ADCP Pankaj Singh stated that 50 CCTV recordings from the vicinity have been collected for investigation.
Bank Manager’s Statement
Bank manager Sandeep Singh reported that the robbers targeted lockers exclusively, leaving ₹12 lakh in cash stored in the safe untouched. Locker holders have been informed, and the total value of stolen items will be determined once affected customers report their losses.
Previous Incident in Same Bank
This is the second robbery at the bank in recent months. Three months ago, a similar theft occurred at the bank’s ATM, with the culprits apprehended after a police complaint. The recurrence of such incidents highlights ongoing security shortcomings.
Response of Bankers and Customers
Many on social media alleged that despite the bank's claims of having adequate security measures, many banks fail to implement these measures due to various factors, including cost-cutting and carelessness.
Image - A post in X shares an opinion on this matter
Image - Another post in X shares an opinion on this matter
According to a report, customers of the same bank have expressed frustration and shock at the absence of security guards, with many stating that they were unaware of the branch’s lax security arrangements.
