Syndicate Bank customers block bank operations

Hyderabad: Devastated account holders gathered at the Syndicate Bank branch at Picket in Secunderabad and stopped bank officials from opening the branch on Saturday. The protesters, who lost lakhs due to debit card cloning, demanded reimbursement of their money. But bank officials said the case is still being investigated by the police.

Police officials rushed to the spot to control the crowd which refused to disperse. Tension mounted as the bank remained closed with people gheraoing the officials.

Meanwhile, bank officials said that the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which took up the investigation along with the police, would be giving a report soon. “The matter will be resolved by May 30. We have assured our customers that we will come up with a solution before this month ends,” said Syndicate Bank DGM M. Prasad.

Mr Prasad added that they are verifying all complaints lodged by customers. “Our customers will get back their money. We have conveyed this to them,” he said.

Though bank officials had promised account holders to update them about the investigation none of them were given any information by bank officials. “Despite inquiring repeatedly the officials are not giving any information about the case. They are only bluffing,” said M.V. Narasimha Rao, an MNC employed techie from West Marredpally, who lost Rs 70,000 six days ago from his parents account. Around 20 customers lost lakhs from their accounts in the last three weeks. Officials think that it was either a mass debit card cloning or a database hack.