Former Indian Cricketer and Lieutenant Colonel (Honorary) Mahendra Singh Dhoni will serve in south Kashmir for two weeks without participating in any counter insurgency operation, defence officials revealed to Greater Kashmir Thursday.
According to army sources, Dhoni will proceed to 106Territorial Army Battalion (Para) for being with the Battalion from July 31 toAugust 15.
“As requested by the officer and approved by Armyheadquarters, Dhoni will be taking on the duties of patrolling, guard and postduty,” sources said.
“He would be staying with troops but will not take part incounter insurgency operations,” sources said.
An army official said the plan to deploy Dhoni in Kashmirwas in pipeline since long but the approval from the army headquarters wasawaited.
“Now that there is a proper approval, Dhoni will arrive inKashmir on July 30 and start his duties from July 31 officially,” he said.
Earlier, Dhoni had taken a two-month break from cricket toserve his regiment. He holds the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in theTerritorial Army unit of the Parachute Regiment (106 Para TA battalion). He wasaccorded this honour by the Indian Army in 2011.
Four years ago, Dhoni became a qualified paratrooper when hecompleted five parachute training jumps from Indian Army aircrafts at the Agratraining camp.