Our Correspondent
Kohima, June 18 (EMN): Following the circulation of news in social media platforms regarding a nod from the ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to replace Director General of Police (DGP) of Nagaland, Rupin Sharma, signature campaigns and signing of petitions were carried out at different locations in Kohima and Dimapur on Monday, to lobby for retention of Sharma in said post.
The staff of the state’s police headquarters (PHQ) clearly defied the DGP’s order issued on Sunday to abstain from a proposed ‘solidarity’ meeting at the PHQ in Kohima on June 18 as they stood outside the headquarters in hundreds until the police chief arrived. The staff then signed individual petitions against the transfer of Sharma.
The petitions, to be submitted to respective unit commanders, were addressed to the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh appealing not to transfer DGP Rupin Sharma “as it is not in the interest of public service.” Signatories were required to enter their name, rank, unit, and date in the petition.
Meanwhile, a group of likeminded people who are against Sharma’s removal as police chief also carried out a signature campaign at three locations in the capital town on Monday, at the PHQ junction, main town area, and at the High School junction. Earlier in the morning, the police tried to disperse a small gathering at the PHQ junction which was collecting signatures in support of retaining Sharma as DGP. Social worker Robert Solo told reporters that everyone gathered there was from own volition.
“We are not here to protest or to agitate. We are here to pass on a message, i.e., to retain the peoples’ DGP. This was misconstrued as an agitation,” he said. Solo also clarified that the gathering or the signature campaign was not organised by any organisation, indicating that it was a voluntary exercise.
Police officials on duty were not able to specify as to who gave orders to restrict the gathering in the area.
As per ST Yapang, an RTI activist who was present during the signature campaign, Sharma was someone who sternly stood against backdoor appointments. He said that the incumbent DGP was a non-local but he was someone who was truly concerned and working for the good of the Naga people.
A group of women claiming to be the wives of Kohima DEF personnel also joined the gathering. While being very vocal about their support to Sharma whom they considered ‘someone who helps those in need,’ they failed to specify when asked about the positive impact he made in their lives.
“We will not allow a good man to be removed and let a thief take his place,” one woman said. When asked to elaborate, she refused and went on to cite that the ‘sepoys’ lived in barracks without roof, which according to her were to be repaired if Sharma was retained.
Calls and messages made to the DGP for comment went unanswered. When some media persons asked to meet the DGP on Monday morning, they were denied entry at the PHQ gate. Personnel on duty said that the DGP had specifically ordered not to allow media persons in the premises of the PHQ.
Sharma assumed the charge as DGP from November 2017 after his predecessor LL Doungel, an IPS of West Bengal cadre on deputation held the post since 2014 and had to be repatriated to his cadre state as he was due to retire during early 2018. Sharma, an IPS Nagaland cadre, is stated to have just 26 years of experience in the IPS and does not possess requisite experience to be a DGP but was made to hold the charge as a “stop-gap” arrangement, as per the political and executive letters that were written to the MHA earlier this year.
While the hype is on that Sharma was being targeted by the ruling People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA), it may be mentioned that the then chief ministers Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu and TR Zeliang had also written to the MHA for replacement of Sharma with an officer of sufficient seniority and experience.
Interestingly, the name of Lungriading, a 1990 batch IPS (AM) cadre was proposed earlier by the former as well as the present chief minister. But latest reports are that TJ Longkumer, a 1991 batch IPS (Chhattisgarh) cadre, is likely to take charge.
When contacted, sources from the deputy chief minister’s office said that the transfer order was still under consideration and there was no confirmation as to who would likely replace Sharma as police chief if there should be any replacement.
