Noida: As the two robbers fired with pistols and country-made guns, the three guards at the ATM and two others outside a housing society near the kiosk had little option but to flee.What has raised concern among the public is the apparent lack of alertness of police as the robbery took place within 200 metres of a police outpost. The guards at the Kendriya Vihar II society said they didn’t have weapons to counter the firing robbers and thought it best to save their lives. But even the guards at the ATM, who were armed with double-barrel guns, had to flee to escape the raining bullets.Indra Bahadur Singh, who was deployed at the ATM and had the presence of mind to pull down the shutters, could do little after that. He said he fled when he saw the other guards running for cover.“There were guards manning the gate of the society abutting the ATM but they fled to save themselves. The assailants had a smooth run towards the kiosk and fled with the cash,” he said.Mahesh Chand, one of the two guards at the society, pleaded helplessness. “What to do? We are not equipped with arms, only sticks . How do we deal with such a situation?” he asked.One of the robbers was, however, caught by the public. They expressed concern that a police team took long to arrive to the spot despite an outpost just 200m away.SP (city) Sudha Singh said RWAs would be instructed to ensure their guards, especially those manning the main gates, be equipped with arms.“There is no point of having guards without arms at the main gates. The point will be raised in a meeting of the RWAs on Saturday,” she said.

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