The commercial hub of north Bihar would go cashless at night.

Some of the automated teller machines (ATMs) of nationalised banks would be closed by 10pm because of the deteriorating law and order situation.

The State Bank of India (SBI) would implement the decision from Thursday night. Its 15 ATMs out of 35 would remain closed from 10pm to 8am.

"There is no system of regular night police patrolling here. Hence, we have taken the decision as a precautionary measure," said State Bank of India's regional head B.K. Sinha, justifying the bank's decision to down shutters of its select ATMs after 10pm.

Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank, Axis Bank and the HDFC Bank are likely to follow suit in a day or two. They have identified the district's vulnerable areas, including Zero Mile, Akharaghat, Saraiya, Kanti, Bairiya, Aghoriya Bazaar, Kachi-Pakki, Kanhauli, Ramdayalu Nagar, Bawan Bigha, Minpaur, Aurai and Sahebganj, for closing the ATMs after 10pm.

Police sources said five ATM theft attempts were reported in the past two months, in which the teller machines were damaged.

"Apart from the machines, the cabins and cameras fitted on top of the ATM kiosks were damaged by the criminals ," said Alok Kumar, an SBI officer.

Echoing Alok, deputy general manager of SBI A.K. Pandit said there were certain hurdles to keep the ATMs functional in night hours in some pockets.

Ratan Kumar, a businessman of Motijheel, said the SBI should reconsider its decision of shutting down the ATMs at night. "Customers will face hardships if the ATMs are closed after 10pm," said Sabir Khan of Chandwara, a Punjab National Bank customer.

Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Ranjit Kumar Mishra said the bank officers had been asked not to suspend the ATM service at night. The SSP said he had directed the authorities concerned to depute night guards outside the ATMs. Police station house officers (SHOs) concerned have been instructed to ensure night patrolling and maintain a strict vigil on the nefarious designs of criminals targeting the ATMs.

SBI officers were not impressed with the words of the SSP, though. They have decided to stick to their plan of closing down the ATMs during night hours at least for now.