Sanjukta Parashar Becomes First Woman to Lead Elite CoBRA Unit

Guwahati: Sanjukta Parashar has taken command of the CRPF elite CoBRA unit. She is the first woman to lead the specialized jungle-warfare force. The 2006-batch IPS officer from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre steps into the role of Inspector General, replacing the 1996-batch officer Danesh Rana. Headquarters finalized the move last week.

Parashar earned her Iron Lady of Assam nickname through years of gritty counter-insurgency work. She started her career in 2008 in Makum before moving to Udalguri to manage violent clashes. She gained national notice for carrying an AK-47 during operations. "This is the first time that the 10-battalion-strong CoBRA of the CRPF will be headed by a woman officer," a senior officer noted.

CoBRA commandos specialize in guerrilla warfare and long-range patrols. They frequently engage Naxal groups in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Maharashtra. Recently, the force deployed two units to Manipur to tackle rising security threats. Parashar brings deep experience from her time at the National Investigation Agency, where she managed national security cases. Her boss, CRPF Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh, also served at the NIA.

Parashar holds a doctorate in US foreign policy. She earned her degrees from Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University. She now faces the challenge of leading the 10-battalion force through dangerous forests and hilly terrain. Her background makes her a unique pick for a unit built on intelligence-based combat and explosive device management.