Long queues in front of banks, post offices

Ahmedabad: Even as long queues of people eager to exchange and deposit Rs 500 and 1000 notes are being seen in front of various public sector and private banks and post-offices across Gujarat, some unscrupulous elements who seemingly never let go any ‘opportunity’ to make quick bucks are again in to action milking ‘helpless’ commoners.

At some places these people were seen selling a form shaped request slip which is necessary for the exchange of banned notes. The form meant to be supplied to the people for free is obviously a hot cake amid the hustle like situation.

The form is being sold at a rate of anything between Rs 2 to 5.

One person who bought a form at Rs 2 from a man near a bank in Patan town of North Gujarat to exchange 8 of his old 500 denomination notes with one newly introduced Rs 2000 note and a bundle of Rs 20, said,’ I opted to buy the form in black to save time. I filled it up and then reached the counter. Many like me also bought it.’

With the announcement that banks will be equipped to exchange people’s money from today, the government had released the form to be used to exchange the old notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denomination. The one page ‘request slip’ has columns regarding identity proof of the depositor of the old notes and other details.

Though at many places the forms are easily available yet people eager to get the money exchanged at the earliest are also buying it. In the long queues there was a considerable number of women.

Meanwhile police has been deployed near all the banks and post offices to avoid any untoward incident in the wake of large crowds across the cities.

Notably many unscrupulous elements had also charged ‘commission’ of sorts from needy people yesterday for exchanging such notes with Rs 100 and other smaller denomination valid notes.
DeshGujarat