Farmers protest against Coop Bank over high interest rates

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, July 20

Farmers under the banner of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Ekta Ugrahan on Friday staged a protest outside Cooperative Bank at Teona village in Sangat block of the district.

Village president Jagsir Singh raised an allegation against the bank manager during the protest that the mangaer had issued cheque books and pass books to his associates, but he was deliberately harassing the farmers.

They alleged bank officials used the blank cheques of farmers Ujagar Singh and Kaur Singh whereas their land had already been attached. They alleged that the bank was imposing more interest on the farmers. Farmers Sukhmander Singh, Major Singh and others also addressed the protest.

Bank manager Gurmail Singh said cheque books had only been issued to death cases and he totally refuted the charges of imposing high interest rates.