'Iron Lady' takes command: Sanjukta Parashar becomes CoBRA’s first woman chief

Sanjukta Parashar, a 47-year-old 2006-batch IPS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, has become the first woman to lead the Central Reserve Police Force’s (CRPF) elite Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA).

Parashar was named inspector general (IG) of the specialised unit on Friday and took over from 1996-batch Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territories cadre IPS officer Danish Rana.

She has been on deputation with the CRPF since August.

A unit built for jungle warfare

CoBRA was raised in 2008 as a specialised force for counter-insurgency and asymmetrical warfare, particularly in areas affected by Left Wing Extremism.

The unit became a key part of the security forces’ operations against Maoist insurgents. Its personnel are trained for jungle warfare and have been deployed in some of the country’s most challenging counter-insurgency operations.

The CRPF had also announced plans in May to raise an 11th CoBRA battalion for counter-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir.

New challenge in Manipur

Parashar takes charge at a time when CoBRA personnel are also involved in operations in Manipur, where two battalions were moved following the outbreak of ethnic violence in May 2023.

The commandos have been carrying out operations to track down insurgents and recover weapons reportedly looted from police armouries.

The prolonged conflict in the northeastern state has claimed more than 306 lives, while 49 people remain missing, according to the figures cited in the report.

‘Iron Lady’ of northeast operations

Parashar brings extensive experience in counter-insurgency operations, particularly in the Northeast. Her work in the region earned her the media nickname “Iron Lady”.

During her career, she has served as a superintendent of police in Assam and headed the state’s Crime Investigation Department. She has also worked with the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the country’s federal counterterrorism law enforcement and investigative agency.

Her appointment marks a new chapter for CoBRA as the specialised force continues to handle counter-insurgency and counter-terror assignments across different parts of the country.