IPS Officer Sanjukta Parashar Becomes First Woman to Lead CRPF’s CoBRA Commando Unit in Assam-Meghalaya Cadre
· India · Times of India, Hindustan Times, NDTV
IPS officer Sanjukta Parashar, known as the ‘Iron Lady of Assam,’ has been appointed as the first woman to head the CRPF’s elite jungle warfare commando unit, CoBRA. Parashar, a 2006-batch officer from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, earned her nickname during a 2013-14 crackdown against the militant outfit National Democratic Front of Bodoland, where she led operations that resulted in the killing of 16 militants and the arrest of 64 others. She previously served in the NIA and headed the CID wing of Assam Police before taking charge of CoBRA, a unit currently engaged in counter-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, which played a key role in nearly eliminating Left-wing extremism by March 2026. Parashar’s appointment reflects CRPF’s broader push to place women officers in high-stakes operational roles, including sectors like Jammu, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. Her leadership marks a significant milestone in gender representation within India’s security forces.
Why it matters
Parashar’s appointment signals a shift in India’s security leadership, empowering women to take on traditionally male-dominated combat and counter-terror roles. This could inspire more women to join and advance in India’s security forces, while also reinforcing the government’s efforts to integrate gender diversity in high-risk operational units. The move may also influence how women officers are perceived and utilized in future counter-insurgency and jungle warfare missions.
Read the original report — Times of India
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