KATHMANDU: A group of local industrialists and businessmen, led by Surendra Bhandari, president of the Janakpurdham Chamber of Commerce and Industry, have staged a protest outside the Mills Area branch of Siddhartha Bank, accusing the institution of cheating them and auctioning off their land under fraudulent circumstances.
The protesters claim that they were ready to repay their loans, but allege that the bank transferred the loan to another person without their consent.
Bhandari said although the bank manager and borrower had agreed to a repayment plan on Sunday, the loan was unexpectedly transferred to the Land Revenue Office in Dhanusha on Friday.
In the midst of the protest, Bhandari claimed that the police had beaten up Kani Raya, a victim of the alleged fraud, when she raised her objections, and arrested her brother, Mahesh Raya.
Dhanusha Police Chief SP Bhuvaneshwor Tiwari confirmed the arrest of Mahesh Raya for creating a disturbance at the bank, adding that the situation was under control.
He said discussions had been held with the bank manager, borrowers, and local associations to resolve the issue.
The tensions escalated on Thursday when bank manager Arg Balampaki and a loan officer were brought to the District Police Office for a discussion. However, after no resolution was reached, the victims and businessmen staged a sit-in protest in Bhanuchowk.
According to the bank employees, they had repeatedly made written and verbal requests for the loan repayment, even publishing notices in newspapers.
The protesters, however, accused the bank staff of colluding with land mafias to auction off the land in the name of debt recovery, despite the person who had purchased the land already settling the amount and receiving the land title deed.
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