Manager, cashier of farmers' bank absconding, `4 crore allegedly siphoned off

A manager and the cashier of Abad Sonakenia Samabay Krishi Unnayan Samiti, a financial organisation at Habra in North 24 Parganas that used to lend money to the farmers went absconding following which the customers lodged compliant in the local police station saying that altogether around Rs four crore have been siphoned off from their accounts.

The customers on Wednesday night went to the police station and lodged an FIR alleging that the manager of this financial institution, Kuddush Molla and cashier Azaruddin Molla have been absconding for the last three days. The victims also told the police that Azaruddin is the son of Kuddush.

On the basis of the complaint, the police reached their house and held Kuddush's wife for interrogation. The local people said thatthe organisation was formed in 1963 as a part of a local Krishi Samabay bank and had been providing loans to the farmers. They also said that the farmers used to deposit money with this institution.

The farmers who used to deposit money in this institution did not know that the organisation affiliated to this bank had snapped ties with it. As a result of this, for the past few months, the customers were not getting loans from this institution.

Police said that people have deposited anything between Rs 50,000 to Rs one lakh with this institution. Altogether, it had collected around Rs four crore from the farmers. For the past few days, the customers were unable to withdraw money and on Wednesday, they found the organisation office locked from outside. The people also went to the house of the manager which is situated in Habra but found that the accused were not at home.

As a result of which, the victims finally lodged a complaint in the police station on the basis of which, police started a probe. They are conducting raids at various places to nab the accused.