The postmaster of a branch post office located on the outskirts of Jalpaiguri town was suspended on Tuesday and a departmental inquiry initiated against him for siphoning money off the savings accounts of depositors.

Jeet Sur, who hails from Narayanpur in Kharija-Berubari panchayat of Jalpaiguri Sadar block, had been working as the postmaster in the branch post office in Bamanpara-Kharia on the outskirts of Jalpaiguri town for the past nine months.

Over the past few weeks, several residents in the area who have savings accounts in the post office, found discrepancies in their account balance.

“On Tuesday, I came to know that funds were siphoned off from the depositors’ accounts like me. I reached the post office and found that Rs 1.7 lakh was withdrawn from my account. I didn’t receive any SMS alert for the withdrawal and suspect that the postmaster switched off the alert,” said Hasi Pal, a depositor.

As the news spread, several depositors reached the post office and resorted to protests, alleging money had been withdrawn from their accounts without their knowledge.

They confined Sur at the post office, demanding he return the money. Later in the day, Sadab Anowar, the assistant regional superintendent of the postal department in Jalpaiguri, spoke with some depositors and said he "found certain discrepancies". "The postmaster has been suspended and a departmental inquiry initiated against him. We will also file a complaint with the police,” said Anowar.

Contacted, Sur said he had withdrawn around Rs 2 lakh from depositors’ accounts, but refused to elaborate.