Ex-Sonitpur SP appointed as IB Director

Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government has appointed former Sonitpur SP Arvind Kumar, who is a Kashmir expert, as the Director of the Intelligence Bureau. Also, Samant Goel, who played a key role in February 26 Balakot Air strikes, has been appointed as the next chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW).

Itmay be mentioned here that both Kumar and Goel are IPS officers of the 1984batch with Kumar belonging to the Assam cadre and Goel to the Punjab cadre.

Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to Shri Samant Kumar Goel & Shri Arvind Kumar, both IPS officers of 1984 batch, on being appointed as Chief of RA&W & IB, respectively.@PMOIndia @HMOIndia pic.twitter.com/D86LpfpaPt

— IPS Association (@IPS_Association) June 26, 2019

Kumarstarted out his career in the Assam Police. He was appointed as thesuperintendent of Police of Sonitpur. Later, he worked as Intelligence Bureau'sKashmir expert and was closely involved in Centre's approach on terrorism inthe valley. Kumar will replace Rajiv Jain as the IB chief.

On the other hand, Goel has handled Punjab militancy during 1990s. A Pakistan expert, Goel was on the officials involved in the planning of Balakot Air Strikes and 2016 surgical strikes.

Meanwhile, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has also approved the extension of Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant's tenure for a further period of two years beyond June 30, 2019, i.e. up to June 30, 2021.