Samant Goel new R&AW chief, Arvind Kumar to head IB

TIL Desk/National/New Delhi/ Senior IPS officers Arvind Kumar and Samant Kumar Goel were Wednesday appointed chiefs of Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), respectively. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved their appointments for a fixed two-year tenure, an order issued by the Personnel Ministry said.

Kumar will take the reins of the internal intelligence agency from Rajiv Jain on completion of his tenure on June 30. Goel will take charge from Anil K Dhasmana on completion of his tenure Saturday. Both Jain and Dhasmana, who were appointed for a two-year fixed tenure in 2016, were given six months extension in December last year.

Kumar, 59, a 1984 batch IPS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre, is at present the special director in the IB. He has been working with the Intelligence Bureau since August 1991 and has also served in the Indian Embassy in Moscow, Russia. Kumar, who is considered an expert on the Kashmir and Naxal issues, is the second most senior officer in the IB after Jain. He is a recipient of the President Police Medal for Distinguished Service. Goel will succeed Dhasmana at the India’s external spy agency, RAW.