Senior IPS officer Sanjukta Parashar, known for her counter-insurgency operations in Assam, has taken charge as Inspector General of the Central Reserve Police Force’s (CRPF) elite CoBRA unit, becoming the first woman to lead the specialised jungle warfare force. Her appointment marks a significant milestone for women in India’s security services and brings an officer with extensive field experience into one of the CRPF’s most demanding operational commands.
A 2006-batch IPS officer, Parashar built her reputation through challenging assignments in insurgency-affected areas of Assam. Her experience includes counter-insurgency operations as well as a stint as a Deputy Inspector General with the National Investigation Agency (NIA), where she handled national security investigations. The combination of field operations and investigative experience now forms the backdrop to her new responsibility with CoBRA, or Commando Battalion for Resolute Action.