A joint operation by Army intelligence units and the Rajasthan Police on July 30 uncovered a supply chain of unauthorised military-pattern combat cloth in Sriganganagar district, a sensitive border region adjoining Pakistan. Nearly 1,000 metres of counterfeit fabric matching the Army’s exclusive digital camouflage pattern were recovered from multiple shops in Sriganganagar town, Lalgarh Jattan and Suratgarh.
Keywords: Indian Army combat cloth seizure, Sriganganagar counterfeit uniform, digital camouflage IPR, Army Rajasthan Police joint raid, military fabric impersonation threat, Bareilly combat cloth link
The trail began in June when a similar consignment was seized in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. Investigators traced the material to a local firm in Sriganganagar that was allegedly distributing the restricted fabric to retailers across the district. Army intelligence conducted a discreet probe and shared an interim report with Rajasthan Police in mid-July, leading to coordinated searches on July 30.
The Indian Army holds intellectual property rights over its digital camouflage design, introduced to ensure that only serving personnel wear the distinctive uniform. Officials emphasise that the exclusive pattern was deliberately created to prevent confusion in counter-insurgency and high-security environments. Unauthorised possession, sale or use of the fabric is a punishable offence because it enables impersonation of armed forces personnel, a risk previously exploited in incidents such as the Pathankot attack.
Security agencies view the open-market availability of genuine-looking combat cloth as a direct threat to operational security. The fabric could allow non-state actors or criminals to blend into military surroundings or gain unauthorised access to restricted areas. Authorities recovered the material from several establishments that were openly stocking and stitching Army-style uniforms without authorisation.
Investigators are now working to identify manufacturers, upstream suppliers and the full extent of the distribution network, which may extend beyond Rajasthan. The operation highlights the continuing challenge of protecting military-specific materials in civilian markets and underscores the value of close coordination between Army intelligence and state police forces.
As the probe deepens, officials have reiterated that strict enforcement of intellectual property protections and tighter monitoring of textile supply chains remain essential to safeguarding the integrity of the Indian Army’s uniform and the security of its personnel in operational theatres.
contact: drrajeshjauhri@gmail.com
Dr Rajesh Jauhri is a Journalist with an experience of over 25 years in Indian and foreign media, a Social Scientist, an Ac-complished Author, a Political & Strategic Analyst, a Marksman (Rifle & Pistol), an Orator, a Thinker and an Educationist. He holds a Ph.D. degree on “Impact of colonial heritage on Indian police”. He runs an NGO dedicated to the social and eco-nomic uplift of tribal communities in MP and two decades back, he established a school in a village of Indore district, providing education and moral values to children belonging to underprivileged and minority families. Has received multiple awards in various fields.
