In what appears to be a different kind of disruptive demonetisation event, mice have chewed through currency notes worth Rs 12.38 lakhs inside an ATM in Assam’s Tinsukia. According to reports, hundreds of Rs. 500 and Rs. 2000 notes were found shredded into bits when repair personnel opened a closed down ATM in Tinsukia’s Laipuli area.
According to reports, the SBI ATM (DFBK -000196116) in Laipuli area was shut down due to technical failure since May 20. On May 19, the Guwahati based financial company Global Business Solutions, which runs the ATM has reportedly deposited Rs. 29.48 lakhs in that ATM. But the ATM developed technical issues the next day and was shut down.
Really Size doesn’t matter!! What a rat this is! Rat-bitten bank notes worth Rs 12 lakh 38 thousand. Torn notes and dead rat found inside ATM in Tinsukia Assam. Rat found dead before little one could bite remaining Rs 17 lakh 10 thousand. pic.twitter.com/3Omns7gAZH
— Nandan Pratim Sharma Bordoloi ?? (@NANDANPRATIM) June 18, 2018
On June 11, when the company personnel opened the ATM for repair work, they found heaps of currency notes shredded into pieces. The bank officials reportedly were able to salvage Rs. 17.10 lakhs worth of notes undestroyed, but the rest has been destroyed. The bank officials have also reportedly stated that the amounts are estimated.
The bank has reportedly lodged an FIR at the local police station to look into the incident. Local people have reportedly stated that the reason why it took so long for the company to send repairmen to the closed down ATM should be probed too.