Date:12/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/12/stories/2008081258710300.htm

Other States - Orissa

Dacoity attempt in five SBI booths

BHUBANESWAR: Miscreants had a free run on night of Sunday when they tried to loot cash from ATM counters of State Bank of India situated along main roads and prominent locations.

Although police claimed that they had made loot attempts in vain, it raised serious questions over alacrity of police to prevent crime in the capital city.

Five SBI ATM counters were situated near Fortune Tower, the headquarter of multinational companies, Secha Sedan, near State secretariat, near Bayababa Math along Janpath Road and from Railway Market Complex.

They had damaged screens, camera and doors from 12 midnight to 5 a.m. in the morning. When reported, police swung into action taking fingerprints and made attempts to retrieve some of camera left undamaged.

However, there was no clue of the goons. DCP Himanshu Lal claimed that though police patrolling team were making regular rounds, these criminals managed to commit the crime in darkness.