Different shades of police uniforms leave athletes guessing

From delhigames.com,

Ashwini Srivastava 

New Delhi, Oct 9 (PTI) 

Contrasting shades and patterns of uniforms donned by over one lakh security personnel guarding the 19th Commonwealth Games have not only left the foreign athletes and officials guessing but also Indians too. Many can be seen and heard chatting with the security personnel wanting to know which force they are from and what specific duty they do.

"In the beginning, it (different uniforms) really evoked curiosity in me. But now I understand that these men have different roles and responsibility and that is why they wear different uniforms," said Muzique, a Kenyan athlete, who was perplexed because black dressed commandos escorted him when he was out and those wearing a lighter shade uniform protected him inside the Village.

The over one lakh security personnel including commandos were drawn from various forces like Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Delhi Police and the elite commando force National Security Guard (NSG). While CRPF personnel are donning a new ''disruptive combat pattern'' of the Khaki with their force emblem on the left arm, the ITBP men wear a snowy-white patchy pattern of the Khaki.

Likewise, the BSF is sporting a dark-green camouflage combatpattern whereas the SSB personnel are wearing a spotted dark olive green. CISF squad can be seen in plain Khaki shade.

To top it all, there is also the Delhi Police in the trademark ''Khaki'' and the NSG commandos-- seen escorting athletes and VIPs-- in distinct black nomex overalls. "It is the first time I have come to India.

In our country, all security men wear same coloured uniform. But here, I see different shades of dresses," said Charles Angueil, an athlete from the Isle of Man.

Kuelo, from Botswana asks with curiosity, "It has really surprised me seeing these security force personnel wearing different uniforms. If there job is one, why do their uniform differ.

" Athletes and officials from various Indian states are also curious to the same extent as they get to see the troops from these central forces wearing different acronyms of their forces on their shoulders. The 12-day-long sporting extravaganza, being hosted by the country for the first time, will end on October 14.

Over 7,000 athletes from 71 nations are participating in the grand sporting event.

http://delhigames.info/articles/2010/10/09/tsp-different-shades-of-police-uniforms.html