Bank Branch in Lucknow University Campus Held Hostage Over Alleged Financial Scam
In a dramatic incident on Thursday, a large group of disgruntled account holders laid siege to a bank branch located on the campus of Dr Shakuntala Mishra National Rehabilitation University in the Para area of Lucknow. The protesters, alleging a massive financial scam involving unauthorized withdrawals from their accounts, forced the bank to shut down and held the branch manager and staff members captive for over six hours, bringing all banking operations to a complete standstill.
Protest Triggered by Unexplained Deductions
The protest was sparked by serious allegations that crores of rupees had been withdrawn from multiple customer accounts without their knowledge or consent. Soon after the branch opened at 11 am, a significant number of customers gathered at the premises, seeking urgent clarification regarding these unexplained deductions from their funds.
Among the affected account holders were individuals such as 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. They collectively approached branch manager R K Shah, demanding detailed information about the missing funds and a clear timeline for reimbursement of their losses.
Escalation and Captivity
Protesters claimed they did not receive satisfactory answers from the bank officials, which led to an escalation of the situation. In response, they halted all banking operations by pulling down the shutters, effectively confining the manager and staff inside the branch. Demonstrators then staged a sit-in protest outside the premises, blocking all exits and preventing anyone from leaving or entering.
Police chowki in charge Om Prakash Tiwari, along with other police personnel, arrived at the scene in an attempt to defuse the tense standoff. They proposed sending a four-member delegation to the bank's regional office to meet with senior officials. However, the protesters insisted that higher authorities be called directly to the branch to address their grievances on-site.
Resolution After Police Intervention
The standoff continued until approximately 5:30 pm, with the bank remaining shut and staff held captive throughout. After police held extensive talks with senior bank officials, the account holders were assured that a regional officer would visit the branch on Friday to investigate the matter and provide solutions.
Following this assurance, the protesters opened the gates at about 5:10 pm and ended their agitation, allowing the staff to leave and normalcy to return. The incident highlights growing concerns over financial security and customer trust in banking institutions, particularly in educational campus settings where such facilities serve a vulnerable community.
