Highly decorated police officer and former Intelligence Bureau Chief Ajit Doval, considered one of the finest operational brains, was on Friday appointed as the National Security Adviser. 69-year-old Doval’s is the second key appointment made after Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed charge. The first was that of Nripendra Misra as Modi’s Principal Secretary.
Doval, hailing from Uttarakhand, belongs to 1968 IPS Batch Kerala cadre. Starting his career as ASP in riot hit Thalassery, he moved to Intelligence Bureau in 1972. Known as an expert for his intelligence and counter operations, Doval remained in IB till 2005. According to the official order, the appointment of Doval, who retired in January 2005 as IB chief, takes effect from Friday and will be co-terminus with the term of the Prime Minister or till further orders, whichever is earlier.
Doval is the first police officer to receive the military honour Kirti Chakra for his daring operations in Golden Temple. Starting his career as a mid-level officer in IB, Doval had undertaken thrilling operations in North East, Kashmir, Punjab and Pakistan. He was negotiator of with hijacker of Kandahar episode.
