Unable to withdraw money, farmer tries to end life at bank

A 45-year-old farmer tried to commit suicide by consuming pesticide at a bank in Narayanpur near here on Saturday after failing to withdraw money, as a cheque deposited by him had not been credited to his account.

A bank official said the number of cheques being received for clearance has increased four-fold of late.

"Radhashyam Prajapat, who tried to commit suicide, has been admitted to the district hospital. He is out of danger," district Superintendent of Police O P Tripathi said.

Prajapat had deposited a cheque of Rs 24,000 with the bank's Narayanpur branch on November 24. He became extremely upset on finding out that the cheque had not been credited. He opened a bottle of pesticide which he was carrying and drank it, the police officer said.

Other customers in the bank quickly snatched the bottle from his hand. We rushed him to the district hospital. He is out of danger, Tripathi said, adding investigation into the incident is on.

In another development, a nasty fight erupted outside a bank in Bulandshahr (UP) after a woman attempted to jump the queue to withdraw money, prompting police to fire in the air. The woman identified as Shanti tried to jump the queue at the Punjab National Bank’s Aahar branch here. 

Those waiting for their turn got agitated and protested, SP (rural) Jagdish Sharma said. The woman then called five youths, who on arrival at the bank started beating those protesting against Shanti’s behaviour.

Policemen present on the scene fired in the air to disperse the warring group.