Bank vandalised in Manipur due to non-payment

Angry customers on Friday vandalised the State Bank of India branch at Moreh, the border town in Manipur, and indulged in stone pelting on being denied cash, eyewitnesses said.

However, as the situation took a violent turn, bank employees pulled down the shutters to save themselves inside. The branch has been shut indefinitely.

B. Haokip, a customer in the long queue, told IANS that the customers got infuriated due to the insensitive attitude of the bank employees.

Earlier, they had been informed that each customer would be given Rs 5,000, but later they were told that no token would be issued to them as the cash had been exhausted.

N. Nipamacha, another customer, said: "There were also rumours that some bank employees were favouring their friends and acquaintances by giving them cash without following the procedure."

Realising that they would not get any money, the people in the queue became angry and pelted stones, damaging the facade of the bank building.

Police rushed in to restore normalcy. However, no arrests were made.

The bank was closed and the officials refused to say when it will reopen.

This is the third bank branch which was attacked by angry customers over the past few days. People vandalised the SBI branches at the Manipur University complex and Leimakhong, both in Imphal West district, this week.

Protesting against the vandalism, bank employees took out a silent procession on Thursday and held a candlelight protest in Imphal city.

--IANS

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