Imphal, July 29 2010: Employees of the banks in the state today worked wearing black badge to register protest against the arrest of one of their colleagues by the police in connection with the fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 46,50,100 meant for relief in Bishnupur district.

They also threatened to launch agitation if he is not released at the earliest.

A staff of the State Bank of India (SBI), Churachandpur branch, Thuamzanung Tunghut was arrested by police on July 27 last and taken remand for three days for investigation into his involvement in the misappropriation of a fund of Rs 46,50,100 from the SBI Bishnupur branch sanctioned in the name of DC, Bishnupur district during the year 2009 .

Defending the arrested staff against the charge level against him, convener of the United Forum Bank Union (UFBU), an apex body of employees of all banks in the state, H Kishorjit said that the amount sanctioned by the state relief and disaster management to the DC, Bishnupur district was withdrawn from the SBI, Secretariat branch Thuamzanung was posted there.

A meeting of the UFBU was convened yesterday and discussed the matter thoroughly.

Members present in the meeting denounced the charge leveled against the state observing that he had discharged only his duty while withdrawing the amount.

The amount was withdrawn by the staff of the DC Bishnupur, he added.

If any of the staffs of the bank had done mistake in the withdrawal of the amount, higher authority of the bank should be consulted first so that bank authority could taken up action against him.

But no intimation regarding the matter was furnished to the bank concern.

The amount was withdrawn by the staffs of the DC, Bishnupur district, K Panmei.

Thuamzanung had done the process only as a staff of the bank.

He is not involved in the scandal, he defended his colleague.

Kishorjit further said that the employees of all banks in the state protested the arrest of Thuamzanung with black badge today.

The forum has also decided to undergo other intensified form of agitations if he is released without any condition by tomorrow.

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