Bhubaneswar, Feb. 4: Police have decided to review security system of banks in the city to prevent loot incidents.

The cops would convene a meeting on February 18 with the bank officials to augment the security in front of their establishments. A similar meeting for banks in Cuttack would be held on February 26.

The decision came in the wake of yesterday’s incident in Damana Square in which three criminals robbed an accountant of a private hospital of Rs 17 lakh at gunpoint when he had reached the bank to deposit the cash.

The police will ask the officials to install CCTV cameras in front of the banks. Similarly, the police would ask the banks to go for high-resolution cameras, as most of the existing cameras, installed at banks, are of poor quality.

“We are also working on a proposal in which business establishments and other individuals doing heavy cash transaction would get one or two armed policemen on requisition by paying some amount,” said police commissioner R.P. Sharma.

The cops will conduct a sensitisation programme for the private armed security guards deployed by the banks. “Most of the private security guards are not aware of situations where they can open fire. At the same time, they must be trained in regular interval to use their weapons,” said a police official.

In yesterday’s incident, the armed security guard deployed at the bank did not open fire though the criminals had fired two rounds in the air before managing to escape with the cash. A police official said more than 200 branches of various banks were in operation.

“We have deployed our men in plain clothes and uniform as well in front of around 50 branches in the city to curb loot incidents in front of banks,” said Sharma. He also said three police teams were on the job to nab the criminals.