Sanjukta Parashar Becomes the First Female IPS Officer to Lead CRPF's CoBRA Unit
Dr. Sanjukta Parashar, a 2006-batch IPS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, has been appointed as the Inspector General (IG) of the CRPF's CoBRA unit, becoming the first female IPS officer to lead it. She has served in the Assam Police, CID, and NIA, and possesses experience in counter-insurgency operations in Northeast India. CoBRA (Commando Battalions for Resolute Action) is a specialized commando unit of the CRPF, trained primarily for jungle warfare and counter-insurgency operations. CoBRA comprises a total of 10 battalions and plays a crucial role in internal security operations, particularly in Naxal-affected and other challenging regions.
Dr. Sanjukta Parashar, a 2006-batch IPS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, has been appointed as the Inspector General (IG) of the Central Reserve Police Force's (CRPF) Commando Battalions for Resolute Action (CoBRA). She has become the first female IPS officer to lead CoBRA.
Profile of Sanjukta Parashar:
Parashar has held various key positions in the Assam Police and has also been associated with the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Previously, she was in charge of the CID wing of the Assam Police. Given her experience in counter-insurgency operations in Northeast India, she is regarded as a seasoned officer in the fields of security and counter-terrorism operations.
'Iron Lady of Assam' and Counter-Insurgency Operations:
Parashar has also been referred to as the 'Iron Lady of Assam' in the media. During her tenure as the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Sonitpur in 2013-14, she played a pivotal role in counter-insurgency operations against the NDFB. Her career has been defined by her involvement in counter-insurgency operations and addressing regional security challenges in Northeast India.
What is CoBRA?:
CoBRA (Commando Battalions for Resolute Action) is a specialized commando unit of the CRPF, trained primarily to tackle insurgents in scenarios involving guerrilla and jungle warfare. The Government of India authorized the CRPF to raise a total of 10 CoBRA battalions; these were formed in a phased manner between 2008-09 and 2010-11.
CoBRA's Role in Internal Security:
CoBRA’s primary focus is on counter-insurgency and jungle-based operations in difficult terrains. According to the CRPF, CoBRA’s deployments and operations have involved action in challenging areas, including Naxal-affected regions. By July 2026, CoBRA had conducted 40,501 operations and recovered weapons, ammunition, and explosives during various missions.
Significance for UPSC:
This news is relevant to GS Paper-II (Internal Security, Police Reforms, and Security Forces) and GS Paper-III (Internal Security and Left-Wing Extremism/LWE). For UPSC purposes, this topic can be linked to issues such as the role of the CRPF, CoBRA, counter-insurgency, jungle warfare, Left-Wing Extremism, insurgency in the Northeast, and the increasing participation of women in security forces. This appointment also serves as a contemporary example of the expansion of operational and leadership responsibilities for women officers within security forces.
