Senior IPS officer Sanjukta Parashar, known as the “Iron Lady of Assam”, has made history by becoming the first woman to head the Central Reserve Police Force’s (CRPF) elite CoBRA unit.
A 2006-batch IPS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, Parashar has built her career around challenging field assignments, counter-insurgency operations and national security work. She has now taken charge as Inspector General (IG) of CoBRA, a specialised force trained for jungle warfare and counter-insurgency operations.
Her appointment marks a significant moment for women officers in India’s security forces. CoBRA, or Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, is among the CRPF’s most specialised operational units. It was created to tackle guerrilla warfare and Left Wing Extremism, particularly in difficult forest terrain.
Parashar’s new assignment is closely linked to the kind of field experience that shaped her career. She began her service in Assam and worked in areas affected by insurgency and armed violence.
Her early postings included Makum and Udalguri. Her work in Assam, particularly during counter-insurgency operations, brought her recognition for her presence on the ground and earned her the popular nickname “Iron Lady of Assam”.
Over the years, she took on several important responsibilities within the police service. She also served with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as a Deputy Inspector General, handling cases related to terrorism, extremism and national security.
Before moving to the CRPF, Parashar was associated with the Criminal Investigation Department of Assam Police.
Her academic background is equally strong. She studied political science at Indraprastha College for Women under Delhi University and later pursued international relations at Jawaharlal Nehru University. She completed her MPhil and PhD with research focused on US foreign policy.
Parashar cleared the Civil Services Examination in 2006 and chose the IPS. Her career has since taken her through policing, counter-insurgency, investigation and national security assignments.
Her experience will now be put to use in leading CoBRA, a force whose personnel are trained to operate in some of the country’s most challenging environments.
The Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, popularly known as CoBRA, is a specialised wing of the CRPF. Its personnel receive extensive training in jungle warfare, guerrilla tactics, ambushes, counter-ambushes, long-range patrols and operations in difficult terrain.
The force was established primarily to counter Left Wing Extremism. Its personnel have been deployed in several states affected by Maoist violence, including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Maharashtra.
CoBRA units have also been deployed in the Northeast during periods of heightened security concerns. Two units were recently deployed in Manipur as part of security operations there.
The force’s work often involves operating for extended periods in remote forest areas, where conventional policing methods can be difficult. Its personnel work closely with intelligence and other security agencies during operations.
Leading such a specialised force comes with considerable operational responsibility. Parashar’s years of experience in Assam and her work with the NIA give her exposure to both field operations and complex security investigations.
Her appointment also reflects the growing role of women in India’s police and central armed police forces. Women officers have increasingly moved into senior operational positions, taking responsibility for assignments traditionally dominated by men.
Parashar’s elevation is particularly notable because CoBRA is a combat-oriented force that operates in some of the country’s toughest security environments.
Her career began with policing assignments in Assam and gradually expanded into national security and investigation. She now takes charge of a specialised force operating across several sensitive regions.
The appointment also brings her professional journey back to terrain familiar to her — insurgency-affected areas, difficult forests and demanding security operations.
As IG of CoBRA, Parashar will oversee the force’s operations, training and deployment while working with other security agencies on counter-insurgency and internal security challenges.
Her journey from an IPS officer working in insurgency-hit Assam to becoming the first woman to lead the CRPF’s CoBRA unit marks a new chapter in her career and another milestone for women in India’s security forces.
