Alok Joshi to be RAW Head, Asif Ibrahim to Head IB

Alok Joshi, senior IPS officer of 1976 batch from Haryana cadre is scheduled to be appointed as the new Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief and Syed Asif Ibrahim is cleared to be the next Intelligence Bureau director. Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) cleared Alok Joshi’s name as the RAW chief to succeed Sajeev Tripathi, the 1973-batch UP cadre IPS officer.

About Alok Joshi

Alok Joshi, apart from being the 1976 batch IPS officer has also served in IB as well as Haryana Police. His main operations were in Nepal and Pakistan. Apart from Alok Joshi, Amitabh Mathur, a 1977 batch IPS officer was also a strong contender for the post of RAW chief. He has now been shifted to Aviation Research Centre (ARC).

About Syed Asif Ibrahim

Ibrahim, 59, is a 1977 batch IPS officer from Madhya Pradesh cadre. He will take over as the officer on special duty on 1 December 2012. This is the procedure that will help him in smoothly acquiring power from present director. He will be taking over from Nehchal Sandhu, who will retire on 31 December 2012. Ibrahim is veteran of IB operations directorate. Till 2011, he was IB station chief in London. Ibrahim was also the first person to have clear understanding about the Indian Mujahideen movement within organisation. He has also served IB in handling various operations, cyber security, Maoists as well as Kashmir. Ibrahim was also the Private Secretary to Madhavrao Scindia and Mufti Mohammed Sayeed.

Ibrahim will enjoy a two years fixed tenure starting from 1 January 2013. Significantly, appointment of Ibrahim as the new IB chief led to shifting of four senior officers. The present second-in-command R.N. Gupta has been shifted to the position of Cabinet Secretariat as OSD and V. Rajagopal has shifted to Joint Intelligence Committee.

Ibrahim is first Muslim to rise to prestigious post of the IB after independence.

RAW and IB

RAW stands for Research and Analysis Wing. It is the external intelligence agency of India. It was formed in September 1968 to monitor the military as well as political developments in adjacent countries.

IB stands for Intelligence Bureau. It is the internal intelligence agency of India. It was formed in 1887.