After ‘scheme’ rumours, people throng bank to open accounts in Pulwama

PULWAMA — After giving heed to rumours that the J&K Government is going to transfer fifteen thousand rupees in all Savings bank accounts in the UT, hundreds of people in Rajpora village of Pulwama thronged a bank branch to open new accounts.

The misinformed people, who have been thronging the bank amid the lockdown from the last two weeks in large numbers, said that they heard about the ‘government scheme’ and wanted to take advantage of it.

When asked who had told them about the so-called scheme, they put the blame on a bank staffer, without naming him. As per them, a banker had asked them to open a Savings account as “government was about to transfer Rs 15,000 in all Savings bank accounts in the entire Jammu & Kashmir.”

Faizan Baba, a local youth, said, “We went to the Anantnag Co-operative Bank branch for opening the Savings account but were told that no forms were available. However, the bank staff asked us to provide phone numbers in order to inform us,” adding, “When we reached home, the bank staff called us and informed about the availability of forms. When we visited the branch, its entrance was closed.”

“When the bank really doesn’t want people to gather in large numbers, why does the staff ask for phone numbers and then call, asking people to visit the branch,” another local resident said.

When asked the about the unexpected customer rush amid the lockdown, the Branch Head of Anantnag Co-operative Bank in Rajpora, Abdul Rashid said, “I have been asking these people, expecting some money transfer from government, to avoid coming to the bank for opening such accounts. But they argue and gather in large numbers.”

The branch head said that he doesn’t have any information regarding the so-called scheme. “These are just rumours,” he informed, adding, “I had no option but to close the bank today as the lockdown was being brazenly violated by the people here.”

Asked why the bank staff was calling people on phone, asking them to collect account opening forms, Mr Rashid accepted the offence and said he would make sure that the erring staffer is taken to task.