Shillong: Around 41 branches of the State Bank of India remained closed in five districts of Garo Hills region of Meghalaya in protest against a series of kidnapping of their staff resulting in a halt to bank transactions, an official said. "Forty one branches in five Garo Hills districts have been closed since yesterday to protest against the kidnapping of one of its staff, Subodh Kumar," Nixon Joseph, Additional General Manager, SBI, Tura. As a result of this closure, financial transactions in the entire region came to a standstill, he said.
West Garo Hills district with 17 bank branches was affected the most, he said. Kumar posted at the Gasuapara branch in South Garo Hills was abducted at gunpoint from Barengapara Road last Wednesday and his whereabouts were still unknown.
"We are working hard trying to locate and rescue Mr Kumar and we are keenly following available leads," State Director General of Police P J P Hanaman said. Kumar’s abduction followed the kidnapping of a branch manager of the same bank at Ampati in South West Garo Hills district who was later rescued by the security forces.
SBI staff association in the state has threatened to close down all branches in sensitive locations across the state and demanded improved security in their work place from the state government.
Demanding immediate intervention from the Centre, Garo Hills region MP and former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma had said the closure of branches in the region will have an adverse effect on the economy of the region. "Most government schemes, like the BRGF, TCS, SSA, MGNREGS, IAY will be majorly affected as all transactions are done through the banks, he had informed Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
