Dhoni to join his battalion in Kashmir from July 31-Aug 15

INDIAN cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was awarded the honorary rank of a lieutenant colonel in 2011, will join his battalion in Jammu and Kashmir at the end of the month and carry out duties with the troops, official sources said on Thursday.

 

 

Dhoni will be with the 106 Territorial Army battalion (Para) from July 31 to August 15 and will be taking on the duties of patrolling, guard and post duty while staying with the troops, they said.

 

Dhoni, who is not part of Indian cricket team’s tour of the West Indies, had conveyed to the Army that he would like to serve his battalion which is at present stationed in Kashmir Valley. The unit is in Kashmir Valley as part of Victor Force.

 

“As requested by the officer and approved by the Army headquarters, he will be taking on the duties of patrolling, guard and post duty and would be staying with troops,” said a senior official. Dhoni has begun his two-month training with Indian Armys Parachute Regiment. On Wednesday, Dhoni joined a battalion, which has its Headquarters in Bengaluru.

 

Speaking to IANS, sources in the know of developments said the plan was in the pipeline for a while. “Just like Dhoni has been one of the greatest servants of Indian cricket, his love for the armed forces is also well known. This idea that he would go and spend time with his regiment was in the pipeline for a while but it took a backseat due to his cricketing commitments.

 

“This will also help increase awareness among the youth about the Armed Forces and that is what Dhoni wants,” the source said. The 38-year-old holds the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army unit of the Parachute Regiment (106 Para TA battalion).

 

The honour was accorded to him by the Indian Army in 2011. Dhoni was given this honour along with Abhinav Bindra and Deepak Rao. In 2015, the Ranchi lad became a qualified paratrooper after having completed five parachute training jumps from Indian Army aircrafts in the Agra training camp.