Sale of army fatigues goes unabated in Bathinda cantt area
Under Section 144 of the CRPC, the sale and misuse of army fatigues is strictly banned. SUKHPREET SINGH SIDHU, additional district magistrate
BATHINDA:DESPITE a ban on the sale of army fatigues in the wake of past terror attacks in Dinanagar and Pathankot, shops on the Dhobiana Road and at the Bibi Wala Chowk near the cantonment area continue to indulge in this illegal business.
Some of the uniforms available here even carry the logo of ‘Bharatiya Sena’ (written in Hindi). There is no attempt to verify the credentials of the customer. This HT reporter bought a cap with the logo, no questions asked.
Bathinda additional district magistrate Sukhpreet Singh Sidhu confirmed the ban on the sale of these uniforms. “Under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CRPC), the sale and misuse of army fatigues is strictly banned,” Sidhu said, adding that police were ‘responsible for implementing the laws’. SSP Nanak Singh said his team would investigate the issue. “We will check it,” he said.
Former brigadier of 51 Mountain Regiment, Kuldeep Singh Kahlon, said, “Not only terrorists, who come prepared with army fatigues and weapons, even local anti-social miscreants are also using these dresses to commit crimes. Some private companies have also been using the same pattern of paramilitary uniforms. This must be banned.”
Former DGP Shashi Kant said such shops were not only found in Bathinda, but were operating near cantonment areas of Agra, Delhi, Ambala and other cities. He said, “This sensitive issue has been raised a number of times. After the Bombay blasts in 1993, security agencies formed a panel. Strict rules were passed to check the misuse of such combat camouflage by anti-social elements.”