All banks in the district would soon have closed-circuit television cameras to prevent criminals from targeting clients.

District magistrate Anupam Kumar and senior superintendent of police Rajesh Kumar have directed senior officials of national and private banks in Muzaffarpur to install CCTV cameras at their financial institutions at the earliest.

Sources said the directive was issued because of the sudden spurt in criminals attacking bank customers and pressure from traders on the authorities to check incidents of robbery. On March 7, members of North Bihar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NBCCI) and other associated associations had observed a strike to mark their protest against the spurt in crime.

The district magistrate has called for a meeting of senior bank officials, police officers and office-bearers of the NBCCI on March 16 to discuss the security measures that can be installed at banks. (See chart)

On Sunday, he said: “The district police will take action against bank officials if the CCTV cameras are not installed or remain dysfunctional. For proper investigation into robbery cases, police require security footage to identify the criminals.”

Bank officials would also have to inform the local police station if they issue Rs 3 lakh or more to any client. “Such persons would be provided with free police escort to their destination from the bank,” he said.