Research and Analysis Wing and Central Reserve Police Force get new chief

NEW DELHI: Special Secretary in Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the country's external intelligence gathering agency, Rajinder Khanna was today appointed as its new chief.

In another appointment by the government, Special Secretary (Internal Security) in Union Home Ministry Prakash Mishra was appointed as head of CRPF, the world's largest para-military force with over three lakh personnel.

The Appointments Committee of Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi cleared Khanna, a 1978 batch RAS cadre, for the post of RAW chief for a period of two years from December 31 after incumbent Alok Joshi retires.

Khanna's batchmate Arvind Saxena been shifted as head of Aviation Research Centre (ARC).

Considered as the father of counter-terrorism unit in the RAW, Khanna has been in the forefront of seeking cooperation from intelligence agencies around the globe.

During his long stint in RAW, Khanna has also served in Northeast besides outside the country as well.

Saxena, a 1978 batch RAS cadre, will be Director of ARC which carries out aerial surveillance of the borders using its unmanned aerial vehicles and other flying machines including MIG and helicopters.

ARC has also the responsibility with IAF to transport Special Frontier Force (SFF) commandos.

Saxena will hold the charge till August next year. Mishra, a 1977-batch IPS officer from Odisha cadre, was made chief of CRPF, a post lying vacant since Dilip Trivedi retired on November 30.

CRPF is the mainstay for anti-Naxal operations and Mishra has himself spearheaded the battle when he was DGP of Odisha.

The about 3-lakh personnel force is facing a number of challenges, especially in the Left Wing Extremism theatre, and three committees have been formed by the government in recent past to fine-tune the operational efficacy and modernisation of the paramilitary.