Punjab’s IPS officer who steered Balakot airstrike to head country’s external intelligence agency
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in
The Narendra Modi government has rewarded Secretary (R&AW) Samant Kumar Goel, a Punjab cadre IPS officer, by giving him unprecedented second extension after a two year fixed tenure for building up operational capability and accountability of India’s external agency.
A 1984 batch Punjab cadre IPS officer Samant Goel, who is going to retire on June 30,2022 , is an Afghanistan-Pakistan expert. He works closely with both Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
Goel was to superannuate on May 31, 2020, but as he appointed as RAW chief on June 26, 2019, he got a fixed tenure of two years till June 30, 2021.The central government had on May 27 last year granted him first extension of service till June 30 this year.
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.
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.
Goel belongs to Malerkotla. He joined as a trainee IPS officer in Amritsar in 1986 thereafter served as SSP of Batala, Amritsar and when the militancy was at peak in the state. He remained as SSP in the border district of Gurdaspur from September 1990 to October 1993.
Goel, a recipient of the Police Medals for Gallantry and Meritorious Service, joined the R&AW in 2001. Goel has also served as Chief of Station, Europe Desk and as Chief of Station in London.
Punjab’s IPS officer who steered Balakot airstrike to head country’s external intelligence agency. He was appointed as the Chief of R&AW on 26 June 2019 replacing Anil Dhasmana
June 24,2022
