In a bid to bolster security at financial institutions, the Ludhiana police has sent out a reminder to gold-loan companies, banks, and similar establishments to install night vision CCTV cameras that provide a clear view of the road in front of the branch, entry and exit points, the reception desk, and other sensitive areas with a storage of up to 30 days and adequate power backup.
Joint commissioner of police (JCP, headquarters) Dayama Harish Omparkash directed the institutions to conceal the network video recorders (NVRs) and digital video recorders (DVRs) and the UPS so that they are not damaged. He also asked them to ensure that there was provision of remote recording and storage of footage, maybe at a regional office or headquarter of the company, for any eventuality.
“The management will be responsible for installation and smooth functioning of burglar alarms in the branches. The alarms should be separately operable by the branch manager, cashier, and any other official of the branch from their seats. The alarm should be linked to the head offices, who are to immediately contact the police control room,” he said.
“A BSNL landline phone with an auto-dialer should also be installed in the branch. As soon as the alarm goes off, a teleprompter should automatically inform the police control room of suspicious activity. Security staff should be properly verified, and names and phone numbers of all visitors should be entered in a register,” the JCP said.
On October 30, an alert security guard at Muthoot Fincorp Gold Loan’s Sundar Nagar branch in Ludhiana had shot dead one of the four robbers who had tried to rob gold and cash. The robbers had also shot the manager of the branch in his right shoulder.
