Bank locked over cash crunch

Tribune News Service

Hisar, January 20

Elderly persons today locked the staff of the Cooperative Bank in Misri village of Charki Dadri district and started a dharna outside the building in protest against non-disbursal of their old-age pension.

The senior citizens alleged that they were not given their pension by the bank for the last three months. “The bank staff give excuses of shortage of cash due to demonetisation. But it has been very long and we need cash to meet out our daily needs,” said Indraj Singh.

The protesters were joined by other bank customers, including women. Bank customers alleged that the staff also behaved rudely with them.

However, the bank employees informed the Baund Kalan police station about the lock up of the bank after they failed to placate the villagers for nearly two hours.

Later, Naib Tehsildar Banwari Lal led a team of district officials and the police to the village and talked to the villagers. Cooperative Bank’s district officer Amarjeet Punia assured the protesters that the old-age pension would be disbursed on Tuesday to all beneficiaries of the village. He said that cash would also be provided to the branch and the staff strength would be increased for smooth functioning of the branch.