Kathmandu. The banking sector has been in more panic after the employees of banks and financial institutions were beaten up in broad daylight, smeared with soot, garlanded shoes and threatened with self-immolation by the borrowers who had to come to repay the loans.

The banking sector has been in panic due to the increase in activities such as not being able to send employees to the branch office, threatening the borrowers while going to discuss the loan with the borrowers, manhandling them in the name of political power, smearing socks and garlanding shoes.

Insecurity has been increasing in the financial sector after the government has been saying that the banks would not allow fear to spread in the financial sector, take action against the wrongdoers, the private sector would get peace and security and boost the morale of security.

Such complaints are not only filed with the police but now the aggrieved banks have started filing such complaints with the Bankers’ Association.

According to the association, NIC Asia Bank and Nepal Investment Mega Bank have filed complaints against the association.

On Monday, Lal Bahadur Poudel, a debtor at NIC Asia Bank’s Itahari branch along with the cadres of Durga Prasain Group’s Save Citizens campaign, tried to set himself on fire with petrol. Due to this, the employees of the bank were also terrified.

After years of default, the bank auctioned the collateral. In that anger, Poudel went to the bank with petrol. After this, NIC ASIA Bank has applied to the association, said Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sujit Shakya.

He said that he had applied to the association after the anarchy in the banking sector increased. “Such activities have made it morally and physically difficult for the employees to work,” he said.

Similarly, Nabin Thapa, an employee at NIMB Bank’s Ghorahi branch in Dang, was beaten up by the proprietors of Rini Bhandari Suppliers when he went to ask for regularization of interest rate. Soon after, the bank also filed an application with the association.

The association had called a meeting on Wednesday after 2 petitions were received. Stating that anarchy has increased in the banking sector, the meeting decided to meet Prime Minister Sushila Karki and inform her about the present situation.

It has also been decided to demand to create an environment for the employees of the bank to work peacefully and to end the atrocities like beating at the local level.

According to sources, the task force formed under the coordination of Prime Bank Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sanjiv Manandhar will prepare a proposal and take time to meet the Prime Minister.

Nepal Bankers’ Association, Development Bankers’ Association, Nepal Financial Institutions Association and Microfinance Association are scheduled to jointly meet PM Oli during his visit. In the meeting with the Prime Minister, preparations have been made to present the security of the employees going to the field and the employees in the district branch with concern.