Bangalore, 

State-run Corporation Bank, whose woman officer was brutally attacked by a man Tuesday at an unguarded ATM kiosk in the city, has decided to strengthen security at its ATMs in the city, an official said Wednesday.

"In the light of Tuesday's incident in which our own lady employee was brutally attacked, we are strengthening security at all our ATMs in the city and across the state," S.M. Swathi, general manager at the bank's regional office here, said in a statement.

The victim, Jyothi Uday, a 44-year-old manager at the bank's Mission Road branch in the city, survived the bloody attack and is recovering at a private hospital in the city. She was severely injured in the head, face and nose. The injuries were inflicted with a 10-inch sharp machete by the unidentified assailant.

"We have installed closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras at all our ATMs as part of our security measures. Our officials made available the footage of the incident to city police and media to trace the culprit," Swathi said.

The bank is also providing medical support to the victim, who has been admitted to a well-equipped hospital and has been in touch with her family members and doctors attending her.

"Our senior officials, including me are visiting the hospital to ensure maximum care and help to the victim," Swathi added.

In a related development, the Mangalore-headquartered bank said it would re-deploy armed guards at its ATMs within the next 10 days to provide security to customers using the facility.

"We have begun the process. Armed guards will be re-deployed at all our ATMs in the state, including Bangalore within 10 days," a bank spokesperson said from the port city, about 350 km from here.

Admitting that armed guards were withdrawn from ATMs five years ago for various reasons, the spokesperson said due to Tuesday's incident, the bank decided to restore guards at all its kiosks.

By:IANS