Bank near Gondal runs out of cash, villagers pelt stones

RAJKOT: It is nearly a week since Union government demonetised the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, however, the queues outside the banks and ATMs continued to grow longer as banks were running out of cash.
On Tuesday, angry people pelted stones on Bank of India office in Sultanpur village of Gondal after they were informed that there was no cash with the bank.The villagers, who had been standing in queue since morning to get old currency notes exchanged, were asked to come on Wednesday.
“Over 50 persons were waiting in the queue. But bank officials said that they were out of cash. People lost their patience and pelted stones and damaged windows and iron gate of the bank,” said police officials stationed outside the bank. Though no complaint was lodged, the situation continued to be in Sultanpur.
Meanwhile, a 28-year-old lawyer in Amreli town lodged complaint against two unidentified persons who allegedly thrashing him on Monday when he was withdrawing cash from Allahabad Bank in Amreli.
“Two persons suddenly came at the cash counter and pushed me. They then dragged me outside the bank and beat me up. They also threaten to kill me,” said lawyer Nitiksh Makwana in his police complaint.
The situation had turned volatile as villagers and farmers were completely out of valid currency and their day-to-day life has come to a grinding halt. On one hand they are unable to sell their produce and on the other they are unable to withdraw adequate cash from banks.
Meanwhile, Rajkot rural police have set up 25 check-posts in the district to keep vigil on transportation of black money. The decision was taken after four persons were nabbed with Rs 3 crore in cash in two separate cases two days ago on Rajkot-Junagadh highway.