New Delhi: Former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is likely to unfurl the tricolour on the occasion of Independence Day in Ladakh as per reports.
Dhoni, who is also a lieutenant colonel in the Indian Army, is at present stationed in Khrew in the Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, along with members of his Territorial Army battalion.
“Dhoni is a brand ambassador of the Indian Army. He has engaged in motivating members of his unit and has often been playing football and volleyball with the soldiers. He is also undertaking battle training exercises with the corps. He will remain in the valley till August 15,” said a senior army official.
Dhoni, who is currently serving with the 106th Battalion in Kashmir, will be the first person to hoist the Indian flag after establishing Ladakh as the Union Territory. Dhoni, who joined the battalion on July 31, will continue till August 15.
Until then, Dhoni would serve in the 106th Para Battalion as a patrol, guard and in the outpost. Dhoni has come to serve in the military for two months as lieutenant colonel in the Territorial Army.
However, officials did not disclose the exact location at which Lt Col Dhoni is likely to hoist the national flag on August 15.
Lt Col Dhoni has remained stationed in the Valley throughout the security build-up exercise when all communication networks across the state have also been snapped by the central government to prohibit any break down in law and order.