Kathmandu. Various organizations of the bank and financial sector have condemned the attack on the employees of Jyoti Bikas Bank. Issuing statements, various organisations have demanded immediate action against the culprits.

Nepal Bankers’ Association, Development Bankers Association Nepal, Nepal Financial Institutions Association and Nepal Microfinance Bankers Association issued a joint statement today.

The proprietor of Saptakoshi Integrated Agro Farm Pvt Ltd, a borrower of Rupani branch of Jyoti Bikas Bank, a member organization of Development Bankers Association Nepal, had called the bank’s staff to the regional office in Bardibas to discuss the installment of the loan. On December 24, the borrower and his associates had systematically abused and assaulted the employees by holding them hostage for a long time.

The associations have stated that the banks and financial institutions have been collecting deposits, disbursing loans and providing financial services by complying with the policies, directives and laws of the regulatory bodies. Concerns have been expressed that such institutions have become the target of anarchic activities in recent times.

“It is the legal responsibility of the bank to recover the loan and the main responsibility of the bank is to protect the savings of the depositors,” the statement said. The unions say that it is a serious matter for the employees to endure inhuman treatment and assault in the course of fulfilling such responsibilities. It warned that such incidents would discourage the use of banking services and also hinder the exercise of the rights granted by the law.

The organizations have strongly condemned the violent acts carried out by taking the law into their own hands, despite the provision that legal recourse can be adopted if there is disagreement on the issues such as loan recovery and mortgage auction. They said that the attack with the intention of taking the life of the employee is unacceptable.

The organizations have pointed out the serious weakness of the bodies concerned and local police administration for not taking immediate action despite informing about the incident in time and no complaint has been registered so far. They have demanded immediate action against the culprits and create an environment where such incidents do not recur in future. The press release urged the citizens to be alert and responsible to stop the anarchic activities against the banks and financial institutions.