Sanjukta Parashar Becomes First Woman to Lead Central Reserve Police Force's (CRPF)’s Elite CoBRA Unit

IPS officer Sanjukta Parashar, a 2006-batch member of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, has been appointed Inspector General of the Central Reserve Police Force’s (CRPF) Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA). The order, issued by CRPF headquarters in 2026, makes her the first woman to head the 10-battalion-strong jungle-warfare force. She succeeds 1996-batch IPS officer Danesh Rana in the role.

Assam IPS officer to lead CRPF’s elite CoBRA unit The Indian ExpressShe chose IPS over IAS, entered insurgency-hit jungles with AK-47: Meet ‘Iron Lady’ Sanjukta Parashar, who became first woman to lead CRPF’s elite CoBRA unit

CoBRA was created in 2008-09 to counter Left-Wing Extremism (Left Wing Extremism (LWE)) and conduct operations in dense forest terrain. Over the years the unit has expanded to ten battalions and has been deployed in anti-Maoist operations across Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, and more recently in the northeast, including Manipur. The appointment aligns with a broader CRPF initiative to place women officers in senior operational commands, such as sectors in Jammu, the Rapid Action Force, and state-wide commands in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Sanjukta Parashar first woman to head CRPF’s CoBRA commando unit

• Education: Political Science at Indraprastha College, Delhi University; Master’s in International Relations at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU); later an MPhil and PhD-level work on U.S. foreign policy.

She chose IPS over IAS, entered insurgency-hit jungles with AK-47: Meet ‘Iron Lady’ Sanjukta Parashar, who became first woman to lead CRPF’s elite CoBRA unit

• Civil Services Entry: Secured All-India Rank 85 in the 2006 UPSC Civil Services Examination and chose the Indian Police Service over the Indian Administrative Service.

She chose IPS over IAS, entered insurgency-hit jungles with AK-47: Meet ‘Iron Lady’ Sanjukta Parashar, who became first woman to lead CRPF’s elite CoBRA unit

• Early Field Work: Began as Assistant Commandant in Makum (2008) and later served in Udalguri, confronting clashes between Bodo groups and Bangladeshi migrants.

Sanjukta Parashar first woman to head CRPF’s CoBRA commando unit

• Counter-Insurgency Leadership: As Superintendent of Police in Sonitpur (2013-14), led a crackdown against the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), resulting in 16 militants killed and 64 arrested.

Sanjukta Parashar first woman to head CRPF’s CoBRA commando unit

• National Investigation Agency: Served as Deputy Inspector General, handling investigations into terrorism and extremist networks, which added a strategic intelligence dimension to her operational experience.

Assam's 'Iron Lady' becomes first woman to lead CRPF's elite jungle warfare force

CoBRA’s mandate includes long-range foot patrols in dense jungles, ambushes, counter-ambushes, IED neutralisation, and intelligence-driven strikes against armed militants. Its specialised training makes it a key asset in both anti-Maoist campaigns and insurgency-related operations in the northeast. Parashar’s combined ground-level counter-insurgency experience and investigative background are viewed as directly relevant to the unit’s evolving mission set.

Assam's 'Iron Lady' becomes first woman to lead CRPF's elite jungle warfare force She chose IPS over IAS, entered insurgency-hit jungles with AK-47: Meet ‘Iron Lady’ Sanjukta Parashar, who became first woman to lead CRPF’s elite CoBRA unit

• CoBRA strength: 10 battalions.

Assam IPS officer to lead CRPF’s elite CoBRA unit

• Parashar’s batch: 2006 IPS entry.

Assam IPS officer to lead CRPF’s elite CoBRA unit

• UPSC rank: 85 nationwide.

She chose IPS over IAS, entered insurgency-hit jungles with AK-47: Meet ‘Iron Lady’ Sanjukta Parashar, who became first woman to lead CRPF’s elite CoBRA unit

• 2013-14 NDFB operation: 16 militants killed, 64 arrested.

Assam's 'Iron Lady' becomes first woman to lead CRPF's elite jungle warfare force

• 2006: Parashar clears UPSC and joins IPS (Assam-Meghalaya cadre).

Sanjukta Parashar first woman to head CRPF’s CoBRA commando unit

• 2008: First posting as Assistant Commandant in Makum, Assam.

She chose IPS over IAS, entered insurgency-hit jungles with AK-47: Meet ‘Iron Lady’ Sanjukta Parashar, who became first woman to lead CRPF’s elite CoBRA unit

• 2013-14: Leads crackdown on NDFB as Sonitpur SP.

Sanjukta Parashar first woman to head CRPF’s CoBRA commando unit

• Later years: Serves as DIG in the National Investigation Agency.

Assam's 'Iron Lady' becomes first woman to lead CRPF's elite jungle warfare force

• 2026: Appointed IG of CRPF’s CoBRA unit, becoming the first woman to hold the post.

The Indian Express