Use of multiple cards sparks fights at Delhi ATMs
The banks do not have specified rules to prevent people from using multiple cards to withdraw money.
New Delhi: Fights erupted in queues outside ATMs on Monday with people scrambling for cash. Two groups clashed outside an ATM in ITO area, shattering its glass door, according to the police.
A senior police official said four people were detained after the incident. In a separate incident at the Green Park market, irate bank customers made a PCR call after a man allegedly tried to withdraw money using as five cards.
“The man was overpowered after he started a heated argument with a women standing in the queue behind him,” an eyewitness said. A PCR call was made at 5.18 pm, according to the police official who rushed to the spot.
Police said the brawl outside the ATM at ITO started on Monday afternoon after one person allegedly jumped queue. Those waiting in the long queue even started protesting against the alleged police failure to prevent the clash. Police personnel were deployed at all banks and ATMs in the city to maintain law and order after the Centre’s demonetisation scheme left people scrambling for cash.
“Over the weeks, we have seen significant fall in the number of PCR calls from people queued up outside banks and ATMs in the city. A majority of the PCR calls are about heated exchanges among people,” the senior police official said. At the South Delhi market, ruckus started outside a Yes Bank ATM after those standing in queue, including a woman who was accompanied by a toddler, objected to a person using more than one cards to withdraw money. “The disturbance outside the ATM persisted for 20-25 minutes. The police let the person go after he apologised for his misbehaviour,” the eyewitness said. Shouting matches have become common outside bank and ATM queues across the city. In Mayur Vihar, phase 1, the police had to intervene last Saturday after a brawl started outside an Axis Bank ATM over a man tried to film a person using more than one ATM card, stoking a heated debate over privacy issue. The bank officials were then urging people to refrain from using multiple cards. The banks do not have specified rules to prevent people from using multiple cards to withdraw money.