Hunsur: Farmers staged a protest by locking the Hanagodu Agricultural Cooperative Bank in Hunsur taluk on Saturday, alleging delay in providing fresh loans to farmers who had already repaid their previous loans on time.

The protesting farmers said they would not leave the spot until they received a clear assurance regarding loan disbursal. The protesters sent the bank staff outside, locked the bank premises and raised slogans against the bank management.

During the protest, farmers also stopped a ration supply truck and prevented rice bags from being unloaded at the warehouse. The truck was later sent back.

Former gram panchayat president C.N. Nagaraj, who led the protest, said around 220 farmers under the bank’s limits had repaid their loans last year within the deadline. He alleged that although the bank management had promised fresh loans to such farmers, the process was being delayed without reason.

He said many farmers had borrowed money from private lenders trusting the bank’s assurance. Due to the delay in fresh loans, farmers were facing financial difficulties and pressure from lenders demanding repayment.

The protesters also alleged that the bank had stopped issuing loans to farmers and was creating unnecessary problems for applicants. They claimed that despite the government earlier announcing loan and interest waivers for cooperative societies, the benefits had not properly reached farmers.

Hundreds of farmers, including Kalegowda, Alex, Lokesh, Shankaregowda, Krishnegowda, Santosh, Mahadev, Biregowda and Rajesh, took part in the protest.

Bank administrator Naveen said crores of rupees had allegedly been misused by the previous CEO and the matter was currently before the court. He said documents were being verified and steps were being taken to provide justice to affected farmers. He assured that arrangements would be made to disburse loans within a week.

Reacting over the phone, MDCC Bank president Doddaswamy Gowda said several cooperative banks in Hunsur taluk had witnessed misuse of crores of rupees by executive officers. He said loan disbursal at Hanagodu Cooperative Bank was delayed due to alleged financial misuse by the former CEO. He assured that the matter would be brought to the notice of the concerned officials and loans would be arranged at the earliest.

Tahsildar J. Manjunath, who visited the spot after learning about the protest, said farmers had genuinely faced injustice. However, he appealed to protesters not to obstruct ration distribution meant for poor people. He said efforts would be made to resolve the issue through discussions with cooperative department officials.