Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, August 28 2009:
The individual bank accounts of 360 Army pensioners who have their respective bank accounts with State Bank of India (SBI), Chakpikarong branch, Chandel district of Manipur, for the purpose of drawing their respective monthly pensions are found misused by the branch manager, Chitrabhon Singh with his subordinate staff by way of forging their specimen signatures on the loose withdrawal cheques/slips, alleged a press statement issued by RT Dahring, secretary of Ex-Servicemen's Association, Chandel district of Manipur.
The branch manager and his subordinate staff had abandoned the premises of SBI at Chakpikarong bazaar on October 18, 2008 after a hot argument with one ex-serviceman on October 17 over a matter concerning sanction of loan, claiming that they will not operate the bank until and unless the bank is provided with security guards and since then the SBI branch at Chakpikarong bazaar remained closed totally, informed the press statement.
Thereafter, the functioning of the SBI Chakpikarong branch started on December 8, 2008 from the premises of SBI Kakching branch, Thoubal district, where the account balance of the pensioners were transferred to A/C No 30644212885, belonging to the branch manager, Chitrabhon Singh, without the knowledge and consent of the pensioners, it stated.
Monthly pension of the Army pensioners were withdrawn by forging their signatures and the withdrawn amounts were distributed to the pensioners at their houses by one of the bank staff who is a local man, after deduction of certain amounts varying from Rs 300 to Rs 1000 from each and every pensioner, which many of the pensioners refused to accept, further alleged RT Dahring.
Monthly pension of even those who had already expired have been found withdrawn which have caused unnecessary problems in the process of conversion to family pension, and some pensioners have not received their pension for more than one year due to the lack of transparency of the bank staff, lamented the pensioners.
Highlighting the plight of the pensioners and requesting necessary corrective actions, the Chandel district ex-servicemen's association had submitted a representation to the chief minister of Manipur to provide security guards to SBI Chakpikarong branch to ensure functioning of the bank at Chakpikarong itself rather than at Kakching in the interest of the pensioners and the public, stated the press release, and it further stated that the grievances faced by the pensioners had also been highlighted to the Union defense minister and GOC, 57 Mountain Division, C/O 99 APO.
If the request of the ex-servicemen's association is not attended and redressed immediately, they would resort to any other form of action as they deem fit, the press statement warned.