Govt appoints Anil Dhasmana, Rajiv Jain as new RAW, IB chiefs respectively

New Delhi: The Narendra Modi-led central government on Saturday appointed new chiefs to the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

Anil Dhasmana has been named the new chief of India's spy agency RAW, which looks after intelligence-gathering from foreign lands. Dhasmana is a 1981-batch Madhya Pradesh-cadre officer. 

He is renowned for his expertise on Balochistan, counter terrorism and Islamic Affairs. He has been with RAW for the last 23 years during which he has served on important desks including Pakistan. 

Dhasmana has a vast experience on Pakistan and Afghanistan. He has served in key capitals, including London and Frankfurt and also handled SAARC and Europe desk.

He will be replacing Rajinder Khanna, a 1978-batch IPS officer. In fact, Khanna was the first person to be elected RAW chief from within the organisation, as opposed to his predecessors — right from founding-director RN Kao — who were chosen from outside the organisation.

RAW looks after the external intelligence of the country.

On the other hand, Rajiv Jain has been named the new chief of the Intelligence Bureau, which gathers intelligence within the country. Jain is a 1980-batch Jharkhand-cadre officer. He will be replacing Dineshwar Sharma, a Kerala-cadre 1979-batch IPS officer.

Jain will reins of IB on January 1 after the incumbent Dineshwar completes his two-year tenure on December 31.

Rajiv, a recipient of President’s Police Medal, has served in various departments of the IB including the sensitive Kashmir desk.