Unable to withdraw money, farmer tries to end life at bank

A 45-year-old farmer tried to commit suicide by consuming pesticide at a bank in Narayanpur near here today after failing to withdraw money, as a cheque deposited by him had not been credited to his account.
A bank official said the number of cheques being received for clearance has increased four-fold of late.
"Radhashyam Prajapat, who tried to commit suicide, has been admitted to the district hospital. He is out of danger," district Superintendent of Police O P Tripathi told PTI.
Prajapat had deposited a cheque of Rs 24,000 with the bank's Narayanpur branch on November 24. He became extremely upset on finding out that the cheque had not been credited. He opened a bottle of pesticide which he was carrying and drank it, the police officer said.

Other customers in the bank quickly snatched the bottle from his hand. We rushed him to the district hospital. He is out of danger, Tripathi said, adding investigation into the incident is on.
Informing that Prajapat's cheque had been sent for clearance. But in the last few days number of cheques received by the branch had increased four-fold, branch manager Sunil Dohre claimed the moment the branch gets a cheque it is sent for clearance.
"Earlier, around 25 cheques would be received by our branch every day. Now the number has swelled to 100-odd. Right now we have around 50 cheques worth Rs 2-3 lakh pending with us for want of clearance," Dohre said, adding sometimes clearance of cheque is delayed.

In the wake of demonetisation, banks across the country are witnessing increase in workload.