4 held in ATM cards fiasco in Maoist-hit Bihar village

Police have arrested four persons in connection with the dispatch of ATM cards to hundreds of villagers in the Maoist-affected Jamui district, even though they had not opened bank accounts.

SP Jayant Kant told media on Wednesday that those arrested included two officials of the customer service point of the Punjab National Bank’s Sijhouri branch, a mukhiya and a villager.

He said the Special Investigation Team formed to probe the matter is looking into all aspects, including the possibility of Maoist involvement.

“The bank has been told to minutely analyse the deposits in these accounts after demonetisation was announced on November 8 and based on the findings, the matter would be referred to the authorities concerned,” Kant said.

Hundreds of residents of Achambhau village under Sikandra police station limits were surprised to receive ATM cards by post, dispatched by the Punjab National Bank branch at Sijhouri.

The bank is also looking into the matter, said its officials.