Bank staff beseiged by customers alleging fraud

Lucknow: A mob comprising disgruntled account holders besieged the branch of a bank on the campus of Dr Shakuntala Mishra National Rehabilitation University, in Para area, on Thursday. Alleging massive financial scam, protesters forced shut the bank and blocked all exits, holding the branch manager and staff members captive and bringing operations to a standstill for over six hours. The protest was triggered by allegations of crores of rupees being withdrawn from multiple customer accounts without their knowledge. Soon after the branch opened at 11 am, a large number of customers gathered seeking clarification over unexplained deductions. Among them were Noorjahan, Janki, Irshad Ali, Noor Ahmad, Ruchi, Phoolchand, Govind Prasad, Ram Naresh Gupta, Samit Kumar, Poonam, Suman Rawat, Ramdei, Sapna, Jayshree, Sarojini, Leelavati, Reetu, Ruchi Pal, Kusma, Anshu and Moni Rajput. The account holders approached branch manager R K Shah, demanding details about missing funds and a clear timeline for reimbursement. Protesters claimed they did not receive satisfactory answers, following which they halted banking operations. The shutters were pulled down, confining the manager and staff inside while demonstrators staged a sit-in outside.
Police chowki in charge Om Prakash Tiwari along with police personnel attempted to defuse the situation and proposed sending a four-member delegation to the regional office to meet senior officials, but protesters insisted higher authorities be called to the branch. The standoff continued until around 5:30 pm. After police held talks with senior bank officials, account holders were assured regional officer would visit the branch on Friday. The protesters opened the gates at about 5:10 pm and ended the agitation.