EFR delegates meet Darjeeling MP, say no recruitment since 2010
The Statesman | 25 January 2026
A day ahead of the nationwide Rozgar Mela across 45 locations in the country, representatives of the Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR) met Darjeeling MP Raju Bista and raised serious concerns over prolonged vacancies and restructuring of the force.
During the meeting, EFR representatives informed the MP that no fresh recruitment has been conducted since 2010, despite more than 2,000 riflemen posts lying vacant. They also expressed apprehension over the West Bengal government’s decision to merge three battalions into two.
Reacting to the issue, Raju Bista said: “It is deeply concerning that the West Bengal government is trying to kill a force of such repute. Instead of modernising and strengthening this historic force, the government has opted to merge three battalions into two. This will severely impact the morale and operational effectiveness of our soldiers.”
Highlighting the legacy of the force, Bista added, “Founded in 1907, the Eastern Frontier Rifles has served the nation with exemplary honour. From World Wars I and II to the Indo-China War, the 1965 India-Pakistan War and the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, EFR has played a crucial role. It has also been instrumental in maintaining internal security during Partition, combating insurgency in the northeast, tackling Maoist violence, communal disturbances, natural calamities and national emergencies.”
Meanwhile, Union minister of state for education Sukanta Majumder, after handing over appointment letters to 25 candidates at a Rozgar Mela held at the Radhabari BSF Sector office in Jalpaiguri on Saturday, launched a sharp attack on the West Bengal government over alleged recruitment corruption.
Addressing the media, Majumder said: “In West Bengal, corruption allegations have surfaced in almost every recruitment process. In contrast, recruitments conducted by the Central government are completely free from such allegations.”
He added that a total of 61,656 successful candidates have received appointment letters through events held simultaneously at 45 locations across the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Majumder further informed that 267 candidates have received appointment letters from the BSF’s Radhabari camp alone, without a single allegation of corruption. “Recruitments in Railways, CRPF, SSB, ITBP and Assam Rifles have been conducted in a free and fair manner,” he said, adding that several candidates hailed from Bihar and Jharkhand apart from West Bengal.
Addressing the newly-appointed candidates, the central minister urged them to serve the nation with dedication, keeping in mind Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India a Viksit Bharat by 2047.