Coronavirus crisis | Kolkata Police face new challenge from masked robbers

Kolkata Police have reported various incidents in the city where individuals wearing face masks have resorted to indulging in attempts to break open ATM machines. The police in the city are stating identification of culprits has become tougher as people are wearing masks, which have been made mandatory as a protective measure to safeguard one's self from being affected by the novel coronavirus.

A senior Kolkata Police official in a statement said, "Employing guards will not be enough to prevent such incidents. Alarm system needs to be strengthened in such a way that once an attempt is made to break open an ATM, the nearby police station is alerted to respond in quick time. This can be done for the time being to counter such crimes and then we need to put in place some other plans,".

Recently, an online meeting was coordinated by the Kolkata Police with bank officials regarding the futile attempts made by individuals to break open ATM machines. Identification of the culprits has so far not been possible. However, there has been a significant big decrease in the number of crimes in the city ever since the nationwide lockdown was imposed on March 25. Having said that, the rate of crime is said to have once again begun increasing with the relaxation norms being implemented as part of the Unlock 1.