(rpts correcting word in para two line three)

Kochi, Oct 3 (UNI) Bank employees in Kerala, including officers, went on a day's token strike today in support of the employees of the Lord Krishna Bank (LKB), who are on an indefinite agitation against the proposed merger of the LKB with the Centurion Bank of Punjab.

The strike had been called by the Kerala unit of the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) to press the Central and Kerala governments to intervene in the matter and facilitate the merger of the LKB with a public sector bank.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Lord Krishna Bank, held here on September 30 had approved the proposed merger.

The AGM, held amidst protests by the employees and boycott called by a section of the shareholders, passed the merger proposal with the ''requisite majority'', a statement by the Chairman of the AGM R C Bhargava said.

According to the anti-merger sections, the LKB will not be able to carry out its extensive social banking practices after the merger with the CBoP and this will adversely affect the common people including farmers.

UNI ARC AKJ KP1253