Concerned over misuse of combat uniform against the backdrop of militants dressed in such attire, the Army is likely to stress for strict control of sale of these uniforms in borders States including Jammu & Kashmir and the North-East.
Alarm bells went off after militants dressed in combat uniform stopped a vehicle in Samba near Jammu on March 28 and killed some innocent persons before getting into a firefight with troops stationed in a nearby Army camp.
Reports indicated that the driver stopped the vehicle after seeing militants in combat uniform mistaking them for regular troops and this prove fatal as militants killed the driver also. While admitting that regulating sale of combat uniform besides regular olive green uniform is difficult, the Army, however, is keen to go ahead with some sort of enforcement to check the growing menace to some extent, officials said in New Delhi.
They said district administration in all border States do issue public notices, time to time on ban of combat uniform to non-Army personnel but due diligence is not applied and rules are not observed after some days following an incident.
Clarifying that specified shops and hawkers can sell combat uniform only to Army personnel after they furnish their identity card, officials said given lax implantation and lure for donning uniform amongst the youth, shopkeepers ignore instructions to make a fast buck. As regards regular olive green uniform, officials said two private manufacturers besides Ordnance Factory Board are authorised to produce the special cloth and uniform. Officers and Jawans generally prefer to buy from the shops selling the uniforms manufactured by private manufacturers, as uniforms stitched by the Ordnance Factory Board are often ill-fitting and do not conform to specified colour code, they said.
In fact, the Army Headquarters recently allowed jawans to buy two sets of uniform per year from authorised dealers and tailors and its cost deposited in the salary account of personnel to ensure better turn out and adherence to uniform code.
Given this situation where on the one hand, army personnel can procure uniform from open market and on the other hand, lack of control on sale of uniform to non-army personnel, Army top brass is now chalking out a plan to ensure that sale of uniform is regulated. The Army will take up the issue with the Defence Ministry to appeal to various State Governments to strictly enforce rules regarding sale of uniform, officials said adding every time heavily armed ‘Fidayeen’ have attacked civilians or strategic installation, they come dressed in ‘combat or camouflage uniform’ walking in from across the border.
The chronology of major terror strikes in Jammu, especially on the Jammu-Pathankot national highway in the last over one decade and previously on army installations has revealed that before carrying out attacks, the ‘Fidayeens’ donned fresh set of camouflage army uniform over their routine clothing after their successful infiltration inside the Indian frontiers.
Due to the heavy presence of army and BSF troops along the line of control (loC) and International border (IB) it becomes difficult for the State and paramilitary troops, deployed in three tier security grid, to keep a hawk’s eye on the movement of suspected ‘Fidayeens’ especially when they enjoy the advantage of selecting the target and timing of strike of their own choosing.
Meanwhile, to prevent misuse of army’s camouflage uniform, the district administrators in Jammu and Kashmir have been issuing necessary orders banning unauthorised sale and purchase of combat uniform. Despite the temporary ban and restrictions, it is easy to lay hands on the combat uniform in the open market.
As per the State Government order issued through the office of District Magistrate, the local SHO’s and other authorised people are required to monitor the sale registers of suppliers, holding the licence to sell variety of goods to army personnel and other paramilitary forces.
The shop keepers are required to register details of security or army personnel whenever they purchase any material. But during the peak hour rush, shopkeepers compromise and goods are sold to even unauthorised persons to earn easy money. There is no dearth of such shops across Jammu and Kashmir and it is easy to locate a shop in busy market area in walled city area in Jammu, near Transit camps, Railway station and various districts bordering International Border and loC.