Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Sanjukta Parashar Becomes First Woman to Lead CRPF CoBRA
Sanjukta Parashar is an Indian police officer who has received a major new command.
She now leads CoBRA, a special force trained to fight in forests and carry out difficult patrols.
CoBRA has 10 battalions and works against Left Wing Extremism and insurgency.
Parashar is the first woman to lead the entire unit.
She became famous in Assam after leading operations against Bodo militants.
During those operations, her teams killed 16 militants and arrested 64 people, according to the article.
She later worked on national investigations, including the 2017 Bhopal-Ujjain train bombing case.
Her appointment is being described as an important step for women in senior security positions.
2006-batch IPS officer Sanjukta Parashar has been appointed Inspector General of the CRPF’s CoBRA unit.
She is the first woman to command CoBRA, which consists of 10 battalions and was established in 2008-09.
Parashar became known as the “Iron Lady of Assam” after leading operations against Bodo militants in Sonitpur.
Her teams reportedly killed 16 militants and arrested 64 during operations in 2013 and 2014.
She previously served with the National Investigation Agency and as Inspector General of Assam Police’s Crime Investigation Department.
- Who
- Sanjukta Parashar, a 2006-batch Indian Police Service officer.
- What
- She was appointed Inspector General and commander of the Central Reserve Police Force’s Commando Battalion for Resolute Action.
- When
- The appointment was reported in September 2026; the cited reports were published from September 15 to 17.
- Where
- India, within the Central Reserve Police Force; CoBRA personnel are deployed in areas including the northeast and against Left Wing Extremism.
- Why
- She was selected to lead CoBRA, a specialized unit trained for jungle warfare, long-range patrols and counter-ambush operations.
- New position
- Inspector General of the Central Reserve Police Force’s CoBRA unit
- Historic milestone
- First woman to lead the entire CoBRA force
- Unit size
- 10 battalions
- Previous Assam operations
- Operations against Bodo militants in Sonitpur during 2013 and 2014
- Reported operational results
- 16 militants killed and 64 arrested by her teams
- Previous national role
- Superintendent of Police and Deputy Inspector General with the National Investigation Agency
- Women in CoBRA
- The force began admitting women in February 2021, when 34 personnel from all-women battalions began pre-induction training