Govt names new IB, RAW chiefs

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 17

The government today cleared the names of  senior IPS officers Rajiv Jain and Anil Dhasmana to head India’s internal (IB) and external (RAW) intelligence agencies, respectively. Both will have two years’ fixed tenure from the date they take charge of their offices. 

  Rajiv Jain, a Jharkhand-cadre officer of 1980 batch, who is currently serving in the Intelligence Bureau as Special Director, will take over the office on January 1, when incumbent Dineshwar Sharma will complete his two-year tenure on December 31.

Earlier, it was learnt that the government had offered Sharma an extension, but he declined the offer. He is considered to be close to National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, as Sharma had served under him when he was the IB chief and was handpicked in 2015 by superseding two of his senior colleagues at that time.  

Jain has served in various departments of the IB, including the sensitive Kashmir desk. He was adviser to the previous NDA government’s interlocutor on Kashmir KC Pant when talks were held with separatist leaders like Shahbir Shah. 

Dhasmana will take over the reins of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) from Rajinder Khanna, who also completes his tenure this year-end.

A Madhya Pradesh-cadre officer of 1981 batch, Dhasmana has been with RAW for 23 years during which he has served on important desks, including Pakistan. His name for the post started doing the rounds in May itself. Earlier, he headed the Aviation Research Centre in RAW.

Experts believe his knowledge about Balochistan became a crucial factor that contributed to his elevation to the top position.