Kotagarh: Fed up with empty ATMs, angry customers including members of a local traders’ outfit locked down a local bank and its ATMS here in Kandhamal district Wednesday.
Later, the agitators staged protests before the bank. They warned to keep the banks locked until all the problems are solved and ATMs are filled with money.
Thousands of people in around 15 panchayats of the block depend on the bank. People come from a 40-50km distance for bank work. However, the bank officials do not behave properly with the customers and often turn them away empty-handed, claiming link problems and other issues.
Moreover, the recent trend of ATMS going dry has drastically affected people. People in cases of emergency suffer a lot due to the condition of ATMs and unruly behavior of the bank employees.
Demanding immediate action, the agitators locked the banks and continued their protests. Later, Phulbani State Bank of India manager Girish Chandra Hansda reached the spot and tried to pacify the mob, but in vain.
He assured to maintain balance in ATM machines and ensure customer friendly behavior by the employees.
Dry ATMs: Angry customers lock bank, ATMs
