Farmers lock staff inside bank over loan defaulter’s arrest

Our Correspondent

Tarn Taran, June 27

Officials and employees of the local branch of the Cooperative Agricultural Bank were locked inside their office by farmers here on Wednesday.

The farmers, under the banner of the Kisan Sangharsh Committee (KSC), were protesting against the arrest of a farmer, Dilbag Singh of Manochahal Kalan village, who had allegedly failed to repay a bank loan.

Sawinder Singh Chutala, state leader of the KSC, said Dilbag had taken Rs 90,000 from the bank in 2004. Though he had paid the instalments, the bank had declared him a defaulter for Rs 2 lakh.

The farmer was unable to pay the amount, following which the bank authorities told the police to arrest him.

The farmers started an indefinite dharna on Wednesday. The bank authorities held talks with farmer leaders, but to no avail. The dharna was lifted late in the evening after Sub-Divisional Magistrate Amandeep Kaur assured the farmers that Dilbag would be released.