GUNTUR/VIJAYAWADA/ VISHAKAPATNAM: Public anger at the unavailability of cash in banks and ATMs took the form of protests in AP. While jostling and arguments were reported from many places, police caned the people in Anantapur.
Locals of Amaravati Capital Region, frustrated over the absence of cash at Andhra Bank and State Bank of Hyderabad branches at Mandadam, squatted on the main road.
Closed ATMs and cashless banks turned it into a ‘pain day’ for the public.
Most banks failed to provide adequate cash to salaried employees on the first day of the month in AP forcing employees and others to spend four to six hours at banks for currency notes.
In Vishakhapatnam most of the ATMs continued to remain dry due to lack of cash. Those who wanted to withdraw salaries on Thursday had a tough time. In Vijayawada too it was a tough time for pensioners, employees and bankers.
Locals of the Amaravati Capital Region including farmers, employees and workers came to the said two banks at Mandadam to withdraw money but found no money available at the banks. Bank officials expressed their inability to give money which angered them. They squatted on the Amaravati-Vijayawada main road. The police came to the banks and tried to pacify them but in vain.
Guntur rural SP, K. Narayana Naik rushed to the spot and asked protestors to end the agitation which stopped traffic on the Amaravati road. The public claimed that they were unable to meet their family’s needs due to the absence of liquid cash and announced continuation of protest till the banks arranged for cash.
Mr Naik contacted bank officials who sent currency from the banks at the Temporary Secretariat Velagapudi to Mandadam. The two banks then provided Rs 4,000 to each account holder.
Banks and ATMs in Vijayawada witnessed huge crowds and police commissioner Gautam Sawang monitored the situation. Karnataka Bank manager Sudheer said “We expect to receive cash within two days.”
DGP apologises for police action
AP DGP N. Sambasiva Rao apologised to the public for the police behaving badly with the people standing in the queue at banks. He was interacting with the people standing in queues at banks in Guntur.
Mentioning a lathi charge at Ananthapur, he said the incident was “very sad” and apologised to the public on behalf of the police. He visited SBI main branch and inquired about the difficulties of the public. He suggested that police provide water and buttermilk to the public standing in queues with the help of NGOs.
