2 hrs ago
Sanjukta Parashar Becomes First Woman to Lead CRPF CoBRA
Sanjukta Parashar is a senior police officer from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre.
She has become the first woman to lead CoBRA, a special unit of the Central Reserve Police Force.
CoBRA commandos are trained to work in forests and handle dangerous security missions.
Their training includes patrols, ambushes, intelligence work and threats from explosives.
The unit was created in 2008 to fight Maoist groups.
Parashar previously led counter-insurgency operations in Assam.
She also worked on national-security investigations at the National Investigation Agency.
Her new job combines her experience in field operations and investigations.
Senior IPS officer Sanjukta Parashar has taken charge as inspector-general of the CRPF’s CoBRA jungle-warfare unit.
She is the first woman to head CoBRA, a 10-battalion specialised force.
The 2006-batch Assam-Meghalaya cadre officer previously led counter-insurgency operations in Assam.
She later served with the National Investigation Agency on national-security and counter-terrorism investigations.
CoBRA was raised in 2008 to counter Maoists and operates in difficult security environments, including Maoist-affected regions.
- Who
- Sanjukta Parashar, a 2006-batch IPS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre.
- What
- She has become inspector-general of CoBRA and the first woman to head the unit.
- Where
- CoBRA is headquartered in the National Capital Region, with battalion headquarters and deployments in Maoist-affected parts of India.
- When
- She took charge before the reports published on September 16, 2026; the exact appointment date was not specified.
- Why
- Officials cited her extensive counter-insurgency field experience and national-security investigation background.
Key facts
- New position
- Inspector-general of the Central Reserve Police Force’s CoBRA unit
- Historic milestone
- First woman to head CoBRA
- Force structure
- CoBRA has 10 battalions
- Officer profile
- 2006-batch Assam-Meghalaya cadre IPS officer
- Previous field work
- Led counter-insurgency operations in Assam, including operations in Sonitpur
- Previous investigative role
- Served as deputy inspector-general at the National Investigation Agency
- Unit established
- CoBRA was raised in 2008 to counter Maoists
- Education
- Studied at Indraprastha College for Women and Jawaharlal Nehru University; reports also say she completed an MPhil and PhD in US foreign policy
Quotes
Sanjukta Parashar
Senior IPS officer and Inspector General of the CRPF’s CoBRA unit
“This is the first time that a woman officer is heading the 10-battalion-strong CoBRA of the CRPF. She has got extensive field experience in counter-insurgency operations in Assam to lead the CRPF’s most demanding operational commands.”
telegraphindia.com
“Her appointment brings together two significant parts of her career — operational experience from insurgency-affected areas in Assam and expertise gained through national security investigations as DIG NIA.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
Related news
Female IPS Officer to Lead CRPF’s Jammu Frontier
NSG Launches First Women’s Commando Conversion Course in Haryana
CRPF Set to Take Over 21 Army Camps in Jammu
Manipur Suspect Arrested in 2021 Assam Rifles Ambush Case
Jai Narayan Pankaj Takes Charge As Southern Range Police Chief
Shakti Sharma Becomes First Woman Non-Medical Air Vice Marshal
Saraighat Bridge Completes Rs 7-Crore Rehabilitation for Safer Travel
Sarma Says Nagaon BJP Win Could Signal 2031 Sweep
Assam Reports 3,260 Rhinos and Zero Poaching in 2025
Rima Das’s ‘Village Rockstars 2’ Sets September 25 Release
