Calls for Bankers’ Safety Amplified After Video of SBI Branch Manager Attack Goes Viral

In a shocking incident at the State Bank of India (SBI) Wadwani Branch in Beed, Maharashtra, the branch manager was violently attacked by a customer, Dhanraj Rajabhau Mundhe. The incident, captured on CCTV, shows Mundhe assaulting the manager with a desktop monitor.

https://x.com/Vikrantbajpai7/status/1806296804096643116 

Shocking Video Goes Viral

The assault took place inside the branch manager’s cabin. CCTV footage that circulated on social media shows Dhanraj Rajabhau Mundhe hitting the branch manager with a desktop monitor and vandalising other electronic items in the office. Despite an FIR being registered against Mundhe, no arrest has been made so far.

Immediate Protest

The attack has sparked outrage among bankers across the country. SBI staff in Beed district Maharashtra staged a protest on the next day at the district headquarters demanding stringent action against the assailant to ensure the safety of bankers. This was a spontaneous mobilisation in which hundreds of SBI bankers participated in unity. 

(An X post condemning the incident.)

This is not an isolated incident. Similar attacks on bankers have been reported in the past. For instance, in a previous case in April 2024, a woman assaulted a Punjab and Sind Bank manager at bank premises. Another incident saw the Finance Ministry concerned over the rising assaults on bankers. Following the attack on a woman bank employee in June 2020, the Gujarat Police Chief was urged by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to take timely action. Another incident was reported from Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh, where a Bank of Baroda officer was attacked at the branch. In all these cases, the video footage went viral on social media bringing attention to the cause of safety of bankers. However, there are numerous other cases which do not come to the public's attention.

‘Bankers’ Safety Must Be Prioritised’

Devidas Tuljapurkar, a senior banking union leader from Maharashtra, attributed the rise in such incidents to two main reasons: the shortage of staff in public sector banks and the overemphasis on secondary lending. "The shortage of staff in branches leads to delays in procedures, which frustrates customers," Tuljapurkar explained. He also pointed out that the policy focusing on secondary lending groups rather than personal loans causes neglect in sanctioning loans to individuals, contributing to customer dissatisfaction.

Tuljapurkar further commented on the growing discontent among customers, which often leads to quarrels and, in extreme cases, violent assaults. "The safety of bankers is being compromised by the managements who do not hire sufficient security guards at ATMs or branches in the name of cost-cutting," he stated. Tuljapurkar urged that immediate measures be taken to prioritise the safety of the workforce in banks, stressing that the bank managements need to address these safety concerns urgently.  

(A post on platform X urging improved security measures for bankers’ safety.)

The viral video of the SBI branch manager attack also sparked responses from social media, with users condemning the violence and demanding immediate action. Many called for enhanced security measures in banks, emphasising the need to protect employees from such incidents.

Continuing attacks on bankers at the workplace highlight the recurring issue of banker safety. The banking community has been demanding effective measures to protect bank employees from such violent incidents. The protestors in Beed also emphasised the need for stricter enforcement of laws to deter future attacks and ensure a safe working environment for bankers.