Darjeeling MP Raju Bista has urged Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Governor Dr CV Ananda Bose to immediately intervene and stop the proposed merger of Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR) battalions, calling the move a “serious injustice” to the force and to the youths of the Hills, Terai and Dooars.
Mr Bista’s appeal follows a notification issued by the Office of the DIG (AP), EFR Salua, on 12 October 2025, which recommends merging three EFR battalions into two. He said the decision reflects the West Bengal government’s “larger attempt to gradually dismantle” the historic force, which has a long history of recruiting from north Bengal.
“In 2020, someone had written to both the Governor and the Chief Minister on this very issue. Today, I am once again appealing to them to halt this merger immediately and instead take steps to revive, modernise and strengthen the EFR,” the MP said.
Highlighting the force’s legacy, Mr Bista said the EFR—established in 1907—has served the nation in World War I, World War II, the 1962 Indo-China conflict, the 1965 Indo-Pak war and the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, apart from its vital role in internal security operations.
He pointed out that no recruitment has taken place since 2010, leaving more than 2,000 riflemen posts vacant.
“Rather than filling these vacancies, the state government is attempting to merge battalions. This will demoralise personnel, weaken operational capacity and undermine the identity of this historic force,” he said.
Calling the decision “unilateral,” he said the state government did not consult serving jawans, their families or senior officers.
“Those from the Hills who claim to work closely with the state government must speak to the Chief Minister. EFR has long been a source of employment for our youths, and even that is being taken away,” he added.
Mr Bista reiterated that only urgent intervention from the Governor and the Chief Minister can prevent the weakening of the EFR and protect the interests of the force and the region’s youth.