New Delhi: Narendra Modi has cleared the appointments of the chiefs of the two spy agencies of the country, Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB). While Samant Goel will head India’s external spy network, R&AW, Arvind Kumar will be chief of IB.
Samant Goel, a Punjab cadre officer, is said to have played a major role, as head of operations, in the Balakot strike just four months back. He was also involved in the surgical strikes of 2016 that was in retaliation to the terrorist attack on an army camp in Uri.
Goel has a proven track in dealing with militancy and terrorism. He handled the militancy that rocked Punjab during the 1990s pretty well and has extensive knowledge on Pakistan.
Arvind Kumar, a 1984 batch IPS officer from Assam-Meghalaya cadre, was vital in tackling the Maoist terrorism and helped shape the Center’s approach on terrorism in the Kashmir valley.
The appointments to the top posts were made by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister and includes Home Minister, Amit Shah.
