Niraj Sinha, a 1987 batch IPS, has been named Jharkhand's director general of police (DGP) replacing the incumbent M V Rao as per a state home department notification issued late on Thursday night.

Sinha was currently ADGP of the anti-corruption bureau. Rao on the other hand will be in-charge of DG Home Guard. As per the notification, Sinha will continue to be in-charge of ACB till any replacement is named.

On his appointment, Sinha said that his priority will be to carry forward the good works of his predecessors and continue the campaign against Naxalites in the state.

"Maintaining law and order and keep the state free of Naxal incidents will be the top priority of the police. The force will also work towards improving public-police relationship," said Sinha who assumed charge on Friday.

Rao, who was an interim DGP since March 2020, on the other hand, thanked the state government for giving him a chance and all his critics.

He tweeted: "I am grateful to all those who encouraged me to do my job as DGP. I am grateful of people who were critical for having kept me alert and do better. I am also grateful to persons who spewed venom for making me stronger."

Ever since Rao's appointment on a temporary basis last year replacing former DGP Kamal Nayan Choubey soon after Hemant Soren came to power, Opposition BJP has been critical of the government for ignoring others in seniority. BJP also kept raking up poor law and order in the state accusing DGP of especially failing to curb the spate of rapes and crimes against women and children.

BJP's Godda MP Nishikant Dubey was openly critical of Rao accusing him of working as an agent of the Hemant government by using police to file false cases against him and his family.