जेन–जी आन्दोलन : बैंकका शाखामा तोडफोड, कर्मचारीको चिन्ता, बैंक बन्द, नगद सुरक्षितGen-Z Protest: Bank Branches Vandalized, Employees Concerned, Banks Closed, Cash Safe
देशभर फैलिएको जेन–जी पुस्ताको आन्दोलनले काठमाडौंसहित विभिन्न शहरका बैंक तथा वित्तीय संस्थाहरू प्रत्यक्ष असरमा परेका छन्। भ्रष्टाचार नियन्त्रण, असमानता अन्त्य र सामाजिक सञ्जालमाथिको प्रतिबन्ध हटाउनुपर्ने मागसहित सुरु भएको आन्दोलन हिंसात्मक बन्दा बैंकका शाखा, एटीएम र भवनहरूमा तोडफोड भएको छ।
बैंकका शाखामा तोडफोड र क्षति
नयाँ बानेश्वरस्थित राष्ट्रिय वाणिज्य बैंकको शाखामा तोडफोड गरी भल्टसम्म प्रवेश गर्ने प्रयास भए पनि नगद सुरक्षित रहेको छ। त्यस्तै, बत्तिसपुतलीस्थित मारवाडी सेवा समितिको भवनमा रहेको हिमालयन बैंकको शाखा कार्यालय पूर्णरूपमा नष्ट भएको छ। बैंकको भल्ट भने सुरक्षित रहेको छ।
चितवनको भरतपुर र मोरङको विराटनगरमा रहेको भाटभटेनी स्टोरमा समेत आगजनी हुँदा त्यहाँ रहेका स्ट्यान्डर्ड चार्टर्ड बैंकका शाखा कार्यालय पूर्ण रूपमा क्षतिग्रस्त भएका छन्।
थापाथलीस्थित सेन्ट्रल बिजनेस पार्क जल्दा त्यहाँ रहेको ग्लोबल आईएमई बैंकको शाखा पनि पूर्णरूपमा क्षतिग्रस्त भएको छ। सरकारी कार्यालयमा आगजनी हुँदा त्यहाँ रहेका बैंक सेवा केन्द्रहरू पनि पूर्ण रूपमा क्षतिग्रस्त भएको नेपाल बैंकर्स संघले जनाएको छ।
एटीएममा तोडफोड
काठमाडौंको टंगालस्थित भाटभटेनी सुपरमार्केट जलाउँदा त्यहाँ रहेका बैंकका एटीएममा क्षति पुगेको छ। अन्य विभिन्न स्थानमा रहेका एटीएममा ढुंगामुढा, तोडफोड भए पनि नगद सुरक्षित रहेको बताइएको छ। केही एटीएमबाट नगद निकाल्ने प्रयास भए पनि सफल हुन सकेको छैन। आपतकालीन रूपमा एटीएम सेवा बन्द गरिएकाले सर्वसाधारण थप असुविधामा परेका छन्।
सर्वसाधारणमा त्रास र कर्मचारीको चिन्ता
मध्यरातमा तोडफोड, ढुंगामुढा र चर्का नाराका कारण स्थानीयवासी त्रसित बनेका छन्। बच्चा, वृद्धवृद्धा र महिलाहरू घर बाहिर निस्कन नसक्ने अवस्था आएको स्थानीयले बताएका छन्। बैंकका कर्मचारीहरूले पनि आफ्नो सुरक्षाबारे चिन्ता व्यक्त गर्दै आन्दोलनको नाममा वित्तीय संस्थामाथि आक्रमण गर्नु अन्यायपूर्ण भएको बताएका छन्।
बैंक बन्द, नगद सुरक्षित
नेपाल राष्ट्र बैंकको समन्वयमा बैंकर्स संघले क्षतिको विवरण संकलन गरिरहेको छ। बुधबार देशभरका बैंकहरू पूर्ण रूपमा बन्द गरिएको छ भने सेनाले सुरक्षा व्यवस्थाको नेतृत्व लिएसँगै वातावरण शान्त हुँदै गएपछि बिहीबारदेखि क्रमशः बैंकहरू खुल्ने जनाइएको छ।
धम्कीपूर्ण सन्देश
केही बैंकका महत्वपूर्ण कागजात जलाउने धम्कीपूर्ण सन्देशहरू आएको समेत बैंकर्स संघले जनाएको छ। तर हालसम्म भल्टहरू सुरक्षित रहेकाले नगदमा क्षति पुगेको छैन।
The nationwide Gen-Z protest has directly affected banks and financial institutions in Kathmandu and other cities. What began as a movement demanding corruption control, an end to inequality, and the removal of restrictions on social media has turned violent, leading to the vandalism of bank branches, ATMs, and office buildings.
Vandalism and Damage to Bank Branches
At New Baneshwor, the branch of Rastriya Banijya Bank was vandalized, with attempts made to enter the vault. However, the cash remained secure. Similarly, the branch office of Himalayan Bank located inside the Marwari Sewa Samiti building at Battisputali was completely destroyed, though the vault remained unharmed.
Branches of Standard Chartered Bank located inside Bhatbhateni stores in Bharatpur (Chitwan) and Biratnagar (Morang) were also completely destroyed in fire incidents.
In Thapathali, the Central Business Park was burned down, causing complete destruction of the Global IME Bank branch located there. Likewise, bank service counters inside several government offices that were set on fire have also been fully damaged, according to the Nepal Bankers’ Association.
ATM Vandalism
When protesters set fire to the Bhatbhateni supermarket in Tangal, Kathmandu, the ATMs located there were damaged. ATMs in other areas were also vandalized with stone-pelting, though the cash remained safe. In some cases, there were attempts to withdraw money from the machines, but they were unsuccessful. As a precaution, banks have suspended ATM services, causing further inconvenience to the public.
Public Fear and Employee Concerns
Residents near bank branches have expressed fear, stating that the late-night vandalism, stone-throwing, and loud slogans created an atmosphere where children, the elderly, and women were unable to step outside their homes. Bank employees have voiced concerns about their safety, stressing that attacking financial institutions in the name of protest is unjust.
Banks Closed, Cash Safe
With the coordination of Nepal Rastra Bank, the Nepal Bankers’ Association has been gathering details of the damages. On Wednesday, banks across the country were completely closed. However, with the army taking charge of security arrangements and the situation gradually calming down, banks are expected to reopen gradually from Thursday.
Threatening Messages
The Bankers’ Association also reported receiving threatening messages about burning down important bank documents. Nevertheless, since the vaults have remained secure, no cash losses have been reported so far.
The violent turn of the Gen-Z protest has thus had a direct impact on the country’s banking and financial sector, raising concerns over both security and stability.
