P C Halder to be next Intelligence Bureau chief

P C Halder will be the next head of the Intelligence Bureau, taking over from E S L Narisimhan who retires at the month-end.

The name of Halder, a 1970 batch IPS officer of the Bihar cadre, was cleared by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday and a notification from the home ministry on his appointment is expected to be issued on Wednesday, official sources said.

The 59-year-old Halder, who has been in the organisation for over three decades, will take over the post on January 1, 2007.

With the advantage of a two-year tenure, Halder will carry forward reforms in the country's intelligence machinery to meet the challenges due to the changed tactics of elements inimical to the country.

Halder, who will celeberate his 60th birthday on January 21, brings to the post experience in VIP security, counter- surveillence and tackling insurgency, especially in the north-east.

He has also served in various missions abroad, including the high commission in Britain. There was no immediate word about appointments to key posts under the home ministry like the director general of the Central Reserve Police Force and special secretary (Internal Security) in the ministry.

The three-year tenure of Delhi Police Commissioner K K Paul will also end next month. The chief of the Bureau for Police Research and Training Kiran Bedi is considered to be among the front-runners for this post.