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

NEW DELHI: The government on Wednesday named new chiefs for the country’s premier spy agencies, Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Research & Analysis Wing (RAW). IB will be headed by Arvind Kumar, a 1984 batch IPS officer from Assam- Meghalaya cadre.

Kumar is considered an expert on Kashmir, with specialisation in counter-terrorism and is said to have been closely involved in tackling Left-wing extremism at the IB. He also holds charge as the special director of Kashmir in the intelligence agency.

Kumar will replace Rajiv Jain as IB chief, who completed his tenure of two and half years. Head of all police organisations, an IB director enjoys a fixed tenure of two years.


Jain, who had completed his two-year tenure in December, was given six months extension because of the general elections.

Another IPS officer -- Samant Kumar Goel -- belonging to the same 1984 batch, will take charge of RAW, which looks after external intelligence. He will succeed Anil Dhasmana who was also given six months extension beyond December 29, 2018.