Ludhiana, May 21 -- A robbery attempt at an Axis Bank ATM on Noorwala Road was foiled in the early hours of Wednesday after the kiosk's security alert system triggered a police response, but the four armed suspects managed to escape after allegedly firing in the air and overpowering two unarmed police personnel during a chase.

The incident took place at the Axis Bank ATM kiosk in Sartaj Nagar near Noorwala Road and has once again raised concerns over police preparedness during night patrols as well as the recurring targeting of ATMs by organised gangs in the city.

According to police officials, the four accused arrived in a car and broke open the lock of the ATM kiosk before attempting to cut open the machine using a gas cutter. During ...