Dimapur: Nagaland deputy chief minister Y. Patton has written to Union home minister Rajnath Singh to replace incumbent director-general of police Rupin Sharma with an officer of "sufficient seniority" from other cadres. Patton recommended Lungriading, an IPS officer, for consideration to be appointed the DGP.

The letter, written on March 28, was available on Monday.

According to Nagaland home minister Kuzholuzo Nienu, Sharma does not possess experience necessary for being posted as a DGP as he has just 26 years' of experience in IPS. Patton also stated that Sharma's experience of serving in the state is "very limited" - just about a year as the superintendent of police in Peren district. "Hence, it is imperative that an officer with sufficient seniority who is also well aware of local issues is posted as state police chief," he said.

Sharma was appointed by the erstwhile NPF-led regime before the Assembly polls.

Nienu pointed out that one has to complete 30 years of service to become a DGP in other states. However, up to 28 years of service have been considered in case of Nagaland as a special category state, the letter said.

Stating that Nagaland has been requesting the Centre for deputation of officers from other cadres to be posted as the DGP, it said the tenure of former DGP L. Doungel ended in November 2017. It added that the charge of DGP was given to Sharma as a stopgap arrangement.