Man attacked inside ATM vestibule in north Bengal

The man, identified as Mangal Chand Burman, was admitted to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri after he was found in a critical condition near the unguarded ATM kiosk. VOTE: Do you feel safe in an ATM?

A 54-year-old man was assaulted inside a State Bank of India ATM vestibule in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal early on Thursday. A woman was beaten up and attacked with a machete inside a Bangalore ATM kiosk in a similar attack last year.

The man, identified as Mangal Chand Burman, was admitted to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri after he was found in a critical condition near the unguarded ATM kiosk. He is a resident of Jorpatki locality under Mathabhanga police station in Coochbehar district.

The police found blood stains inside the vestibule but could not ascertain the details of the attack as Burman, who sustained severe head injuries, could not immediately give a statement. A bag full of clothes was found inside the ATM kiosk. The police also found a voter ID card and Rs. 29 from Burman.

According to the police, the attack victim did not withdraw any money from the ATM on Thursday. He used the same kiosk for a transaction last made on March 3.

Bomb and dog squads also visited the spot after the attack, he said.

No security guard was present at the kiosk when the incident took place. A private agency is responsible for overseeing the security at the kiosk.

In the Bangalore attack last year, the 44-year-old manager of the state-run Corporation Bank's branch on Mission Road in Bangalore was in an ATM vestibule when attacked by a masked assailant, caught on video footage with a 10-inch machete and a country pistol. The attack had sent shock waves across the country after the police released the footage of the attack to TV news channels.

VOTE: Do you feel safe in an ATM?