The Hindu : New Delhi News : Army uniform sale worries police

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 15, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Army uniform sale worries police

Prashant Pandey

Recovery of army fatigues from arrested militants moves police to take action

NEW DELHI: In the wake of the recovery of Army fatigues from militants arrested recently by the South-West Delhi police, the authorities may take up the matter with the Army to discuss ways to check open sale of such uniforms in the Capital.

According to a senior police officer, any such step would require decisions at a higher level and they would request the Special Cell of the Delhi police, which is the nodal agency for anti-terrorist operations in the Capital, to take up the matter with the authorities. "It is not easy to put a curb on such a practice, but after the recent revelations, we will have to seek ways to keep a check on it."

In two recent operations, the South-West Delhi police arrested six militants and recovered Army fatigues from their possession. Those arrested on Tuesday had bought the fatigues from Gopinath Bazar in the Delhi Cantonment area.

The militants had approached an assistant of the tailor in the shop from where they had bought the uniform. Police sources said the assistant sold the uniforms, which had apparently been ordered by an Army personnel, to earn quick money. The uniform, which usually costs Rs. 600, was allegedly sold by the assistant for Rs. 800.

Police officers said while there was a ban on anyone wearing an Army or police uniform unauthorisedly, there was no clear directive against sale of such uniforms.

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