Beetle sets off ATM alert at Chettalli; sparks wee-hour Police response

Chettalli (Kodagu): A late-night security scare at the Canara Bank ATM in Chettalli in Kodagu district turned out to be an unusual false alarm — caused by a beetle.

In wee hours of today, the Bengaluru Police Control Room flagged a possible breach at the ATM kiosk and relayed the alert to the Chettalli Police Outpost. Acting swiftly, ASI Dinesh and his team rushed to the spot at around 2 am. On inspection, officers found no signs of forced entry or malfunction. But a small hole at the bottom of the ATM door caught their eye. Peering closer, they discovered unlikely culprit — a large black beetle attempting to squeeze inside the machine. The insect was removed, and all-clear was given. The information was later relayed to Bengaluru Police Control Room.

The Canara Bank branch at Chettalli was closed for nearly six months. A new ATM was installed but faced repeated power issues, requiring repairs. It was restored two days ago, only to find itself in news again for this bizarre incident.