Illegal sale of unauthorised army-pattern combat clothes busted in Rajasthan's Sriganganagar

The Indian Army and Rajasthan Police collaborated in a joint operation to dismantle the illegal sale of counterfeit army-pattern combat clothes in Sriganganagar, Rajasthan. Nearly 1,000 meters of unauthorized military combat cloth were seized from various shops in the town, signaling a larger network behind the production and distribution of counterfeit military uniforms.

The Indian Army had previously secured a patent for a new combat uniform in 2022 to curb the uncontrolled spread of an older pattern, which had led to security vulnerabilities in military establishments. This action followed a similar seizure in Bareilly in June, which was traced back to a manufacturer in Sriganganagar. Acting on this lead, Indian Army intelligence conducted an investigation in the city, which revealed a local firm as a key player in the supply chain of counterfeit combat cloth.

The seized material could facilitate identity fraud by allowing individuals to mimic armed forces personnel, posing a significant security risk. The new digital camouflage pattern uniform was introduced to promote uniformity among soldiers' battle fatigues, addressing criticisms regarding variations in the previous pattern. The National Institute of Fashion Technology contributed to the design of the new combat uniform.

While combat uniform is worn by soldiers in operational areas, those stationed at the Army headquarters in New Delhi wear the combat dress on Fridays to show solidarity with their comrades in forward areas.