JAISALMER: In a major security crackdown ahead of Independence Day, authorities have seized illegally sold fabric resembling the Indian Army’s new digital pattern combat uniform in Rajasthan‘s border district of Sri Ganganagar, which shares a sensitive frontier with Pakistan.The action comes amid heightened security concerns in the border region, where intelligence agencies have warned that terrorists could misuse military uniforms to infiltrate sensitive areas or carry out attacks while impersonating Army personnel.The operation also exposed a supply chain originating in Delhi. Acting on inputs from Army Intelligence, enforcement agencies conducted searches at nearly 600 shops in Delhi’s Azad Market, where a large number of traders were allegedly supplying Army-pattern combat fabric without authorization to retailers in Sri Ganganagar.Subsequently, a joint team of Sri Ganganagar Kotwali Police and Army Intelligence carried out coordinated raids in the city’s main markets. During the operation, counterfeit combat-pattern fabric along with Army-related items, including boots, laces, caps, and other military accessories, were seized from around a dozen shops located on Railway Station Road.Kotwali Station House Officer (SHO) Tejwant Singh Brar said Army Intelligence had received specific information that shops were openly selling the Army’s restricted new digital pattern combat uniform fabric. Preliminary investigation revealed that the material was being sourced from Delhi’s Azad Market (Mahalaxmi Market), where nearly 600 shops deal in Army-style uniform fabric. None of the retailers in Sri Ganganagar possessed the required authorization or licence to sell the fabric.Although the new combat pattern has been under the control of the Ministry of Defence since its introduction, the investigation found that the fabric was still being sold illegally in the open market.During verification at Apna Army Tailors on Railway Station Road, shop owner Bhajan Lal informed investigators that he stitched Army combat uniforms and procured the fabric from Doda Traders. Further investigation revealed that a supplier identified as Harsh had allegedly been distributing Army-lookalike combat fabric to several tailors and shops in Sri Ganganagar, as well as to customers in other districts and even private individuals. Authorities have identified the supply chain and initiated further legal action to curb unauthorized sales.Army Intelligence sources said the illegal sale of combat uniform fabric in a border district poses a significant national security risk.Terrorists or anti-national elements could exploit such uniforms to impersonate Army personnel and gain access to military establishments, public events, or other sensitive locations, making it difficult for security agencies to identify them and potentially facilitating major terror attacks.The demand for the Army’s new digital pattern combat uniform has increased significantly since its introduction. As the fabric is not readily available through the CSD (Canteen Stores Department) or even at some BSF establishments, an illegal market has emerged where genuine or lookalike fabric reportedly sells for Rs 4,000-Rs 5,000 per set.The Indian Army introduced its new Digital Camouflage Pattern Combat Uniform (Dress No. 7/2022) in 2022. The camouflage design and pattern are protected under Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) registered in the name of the Indian Army. According to the Army, the unauthorized manufacture, sale, or distribution of this pattern is illegal and can attract civil litigation and other legal action.The new combat uniform is supplied only through a controlled procurement system and the CSD network, and its sale in the civilian market is strictly prohibited. The Army has expressed concern that unrestricted availability of military-pattern uniforms poses a serious national security challenge.Based on intelligence inputs indicating that anti-national elements may attempt to procure the new digital combat uniform, coordinated enforcement measures have been directed involving state police, military authorities, military police, and local law enforcement agencies to prevent unauthorized sales, particularly around military stations and cantonments. This version follows a professional news agency style suitable for publication.
