HYDERABAD, Sept 6: Retailers, wholesalers, and middlemen have been issued final warning to refrain from overcharging failing which they would face three-month imprisonment, heavy fine, or both.

The DCO Hyderabad, Ali Ahmed Lund issued this warning while presiding over a meeting of revenue officers with powers of Special Judicial Magistrates at his office here Friday night.

The DCO Hyderabad said that 10 complaint centres in regard to control prices of essential commodities had been set up at Fire Brigade Station Market Tower, Fire Brigade Station Fakir-Ka-Pir, Poultry Dealers Lajpat Road, Main Market Latifabad NO:7 and 11, near Mustafa Masjid Latifabad No.11, Main Chowk Qasimabad and Naseem Nagar, Tandojam Main Bazaar and near Poly-Technical College Wahdat Colony. He directed the concerned DDOs Revenue and Mukhtiarkars/Special Judicial Magistrates to remain present at Complaint Centres daily from 1pm to 6.30pm and should take immediate action on receiving complaints of profiteering.

While at places where more than one complaint centres were established in a taluka, the DDO (R) Special Judicial Magistrate and Mukhtiarkar concerned shall remain present for at least two hours at each centre of his jurisdiction.

He said the DPO Hyderabad had also been asked to establish police picket at each complaint centre to provide necessary assistance to Special Judicial Magistrates and other staff members. He directed the officers that these complaint centres should be maintained properly.