Dozens of depositors alleged that their funds to the tune of lakhs of rupees were embezzled from their savings accounts at Bhuinpur sub-post office in Odisha's Kendrapara district. The depositors are being forced to run from pillar to post to withdraw their money but in vain.
It is now almost two years that the depositors are facing a lot of inconveniences to withdraw money from their accounts. They alleged that despite repeated memorandums made to the postmaster and superintendent, no step is being taken to resolve their grievances. The depositors have threatened to end their lives if the authorities do not take any steps to resolve their grievances at the earliest.
As per depositors, most of them have savings account in the post office and when some of them went to withdraw their money, the then postmaster informed them that there was a deficit in their account.
"We are not able to withdraw our money or the interest credited to our account. The authorities here say that the data is not reflected in the account," said a depositor.
Damodar Biswal, a depositor said, "I have deposited around Rs 3 to 4 lakh. I had once withdrawn Rs 15,000 but the postmaster visited my house in the evening and took away the money saying that the money is not reflected online even though it is mentioned in the passbook."
Gurucharan Sahu, a vegetable vendor said, "Everything is handwritten and I am worried about how I will get my daughter married. If such things happen in a post office, what can we do other than ending my life here?"
Prabhakar Mohapatra, Postmaster said, "Earlier every work was being done through the ledger and after CBS, there has been some error in data entry for which it is not reflecting online and there is a mismatch with the passbook. We have already brought the matter to the notice of senior officials."
(Reported by Banamali Sahu)