Jaipur, Aug 1 (IANS) A joint operation by Indian Army intelligence units and Rajasthan Police has led to the seizure of nearly 1,000 metres of unauthorised Army-pattern combat cloth from shops across Sriganganagar district, exposing a wider network allegedly supplying counterfeit military uniforms to vendors in the region.
The action followed the seizure of similar counterfeit combat cloth in Bareilly in June this year, which investigators traced to a manufacturing source in Sriganganagar. Acting on this lead, Indian Army intelligence personnel conducted a discreet investigation in the city that identified a local firm as a key link in the supply chain allegedly distributing counterfeit Army-pattern combat cloth to shops in Sriganganagar town, Lalgarh Jattan, Suratgarh and other nearby markets.
An interim investigation report was shared with Rajasthan Police in mid-July, leading to a coordinated operation on July 30, during which Army intelligence personnel and police searched multiple shops across the district. The raids resulted in the seizure of approximately 1,000 metres of unauthorised new-pattern counterfeit combat cloth.
Officials said the unauthorised possession, sale or use of military-pattern combat cloth is a punishable offence and poses a serious security risk if it enables the impersonation of armed forces personnel. Following the intelligence inputs, a joint team of Army Intelligence and the Sriganganagar Kotwali Police conducted simultaneous raids at several shops across the city. Besides the counterfeit combat fabric, authorities also seized combat boots, caps, laces and other Army-related items.
Preliminary investigations indicate that uniforms stitched from the restricted-pattern fabric were allegedly being sold in the open market without authorisation, with prices ranging from Rs 1,500 to Rs 5,000.
Kotwali Police Station SHO Tejwant Singh Barar said police acted after Army Intelligence alerted them that fabric resembling the Indian Army’s restricted digital-pattern combat uniform was being sold openly in local markets. Raids were conducted at several establishments on Railway Station Road, including Apna Army Tailors, Jai Bhole Army Store, RD Army Store, Punjabi Army Tailors, Charan Army Tailor, Shri Prayag Army Store, Kukkar Army Store, Raj Army Store and JMD Army Tailor.
The investigation into the role of individual shop owners is continuing.
Investigators traced the supply chain to Azad Market (Mahalaxmi Market), Delhi, where around 600 shops are engaged in the sale of Army uniform fabric.
Officials allege that some of these suppliers were providing restricted-pattern material to retailers and tailors in Sriganganagar without the necessary authorisation.
According to investigators, despite the Ministry of Defence holding rights over the Army’s new digital camouflage pattern introduced in 2023, fabric resembling the design continues to circulate through unauthorised channels.
During questioning, the owner of Apna Army Tailors, Bhajanlal, allegedly told investigators that he stitched Army combat uniforms using fabric purchased from Doda Traders.
Further investigation identified an individual named Harsh as an alleged supplier of Army-pattern combat cloth to several shops and tailors in Sriganganagar and nearby areas. Authorities have recommended identifying the complete supply chain, taking legal action against those involved and preventing further unauthorised sales.
Army Intelligence officials said the illegal sale of military-pattern combat uniforms is a significant security concern, particularly in the sensitive India-Pakistan border region.
Officials warned that such uniforms could be misused by terrorists or other anti-national elements to impersonate Army personnel and gain access to sensitive locations, making detection more difficult. The Indian Army introduced its digital camouflage combat uniform under Dress No. 7/2022, and the camouflage pattern is protected under Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) registered in the Army’s name.
According to the Army, the manufacture, sale or commercial distribution of the protected camouflage fabric or uniform without authorisation is illegal and may attract civil and other legal action. The new digital combat uniform is supplied only through the Army’s controlled procurement system and authorised Canteen Stores Department (CSD) outlets.
–IANS
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