Security arrangements in and around Kandoli village continued to remain even as captain of the Indian cricket team Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his newly-wedded wife Sakshi left for Ranchi today, a day after the couple's low-key marriage ceremony at a resort near here.
Dhoni tied the nuptial knot with childhood friend Sakshi Singh Rawat yesterday in a private ceremony attended only by family members and close friends, including a few of his team-mates.
The media persons continued to camp at the area while the Uttarakhand Police said the deployment would remain around the Vishranti Resorts — the venue of the marriage, some 25 kms from the hill city.
“There are some family members, who are still staying in the resorts. So as a precautionary measure we have decided to continue with police deployment there,” Dehra Dun Senior Superintendent of Police Abhinav Kumar said.
However, Mr. Kumar said that the police force has been partially withdrawn since early morning.
Kandoli, 25km from here, is a sleepy and non-descript village deep inside the dense forests. Its narrow muddy lanes were filled with scores of cricket fans and media persons who tried to have a glimpse of the ceremony.
“Many people come here to solemnise their marriage in the resorts. But such a huge gathering of media persons and police was seen for the first time,” said 50 year-old Kashmiri Lal, a resident of the village.
Media persons were denied entry inside the resorts. Food and tea was provided by the villagers.
“Since there is no shop around the village, it was really courteous on the part of villagers to provide us food and tea — especially in the night hours,” said a Delhi-based journalist.
Earlier, Vishranti Resorts had came into the limelight when Devyani, who was allegedly linked with slain Nepalese Prince Dipendra, was believed to have stayed there for a few days soon after the massacre of the royal family at Kathmandu in 2002.
Among others, former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje also often visits the resorts.
The hush-hush affair was initially planned for 2011 but had to be advanced due to several reasons.
According to his astrologer, Dhoni, who turns 29 in July, has entered one of the most auspicious years of his life and both the families thought this would be the best time to formalise the couple's relationship.
Besides, the Indian skipper did not have the time for a complex Hindu ritual given the packed international schedule in the coming few months.
Dhoni and Sakshi had studied together and though they had been seeing each other for around three years, the high-profile cricketer managed to keep the relationship a secret from the prying media.
