Suspicious shutter downings prompt outcry among local consumers in Kurnool

The sudden closure of several grocery and general stores in Devanakonda as Legal Metrology Department officials arrived for routine inspections has sparked widespread suspicion among local consumers regarding possible information leaks.

A team of officials from Kurnool, led by Inspector Venkateswarlu, visited the town on Saturday to verify weights, measures, packaged commodities, and pricing compliance.

During the operations, officials closely examined weighing scales and package quantities, paying special attention to 50-kg bags to detect potential tampering.

However, numerous traders hastily pulled down their shutters just as checks were set to begin.

This coordinated closure led residents to question whether insiders tipped off the merchants and why shops would close if their measurements were accurate.

Adding weight to consumer concerns, inspectors uncovered an irregular weighing scale at a vegetable shop and levied a penalty. The finding fueled demands for a wider, unannounced verification of all commercial establishments in the town.

Consumers have urged the Legal Metrology Department to conduct comprehensive inspections of all grocery and general stores without leaving room for irregularities. They also demanded a transparent explanation regarding the sudden shop closures and called for inspection outcomes to be publicly disclosed to protect consumer rights.

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Narendra Kr Varikuntla

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