Samant Kumar Goel, chief of R&AW, will continue to helm the country's external intelligence agency as the government has given him yet another year's extension, up to June 30, 2023. Last year, he had been given a year’s extension after he completed a two-year fixed tenure.
Meanwhile, the domestic spy agency, Intelligence Bureau, has got a new chief in Tapan Kumar Deka, for a fixed two-year tenure. Both Goel, a 1984 batch IPS officer of Punjab cadre, and Deka, a 1988 batch IPS officer belonging to Himachal Pradesh cadre, have spent years in the spy agencies as hardcore officers.
The latest order of the appointments committee of cabinet has put to rest speculations on who would lead the twin intelligence agencies after the incumbents completed their tenures in June end.
Both Goel and Deka are strong “operations” men whose field work and operational capabilities have got them the top jobs in the spy agencies. While Goel's extension of tenure has not come as a surprise for the intelligence community as his capabilities have been tried and tested when he successfully steered the intelligence operations during the 2019 Balakot airstrike and 2016 surgical strikes in Pakistan, Deka's appointment has corroborated the assessment in security circles that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have given weightage to building the operational strengths of the agencies over analysis experts. Deka supersedes the 1987 batch of IPS officers who were also in the race for the top job.
It is learnt that both 1987 and 1988 batch IPS officers were in consideration for the IB chief's post after incumbent director of Intelligence Bureau, Arvinda Kumar, a 1984 batch IPS officer, was due to retire on June 30.
Deka, who is presently serving as special director in IB, is a hardcore operations officer who has done long stints in the Northeast, and worked closely on the inter-connectivity of the Indian Mujahideen terror modules across the country. He was the operational in-charge in IB during the Batla House encounter, besides spending some time in Guwahati post-anti CAA protests in 2020 in the country. Presently, he was holding key charge of counter-terror efforts in the IB.
Both Goel and Deka have key challenges ahead. On top of the list will be the smooth conduct of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir—the first since the abrogation of Article 370. The polls are expected to be held after the delimitation process is over. The quelling of the Naga insurgency, a final peace accord and removal of AFSPA from Northeast will need the IB chief's efforts while neutralising external threats on the Indo-China border through swift intelligence gathering and operational readiness will be some of the key challenges for Goel.
The digital and cyber capabilities of both agencies are expected to get a fillip with Goel already running with the ball when it comes to countering misinformation and propaganda.
