Senior IPS officer Sanjukta Parasor has taken charge as Inspector General of the Central Reserve Police Force’s (CRPF) elite Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), becoming the first woman officer to lead the specialised jungle-warfare force. The 2006-batch IPS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre brings years of experience in counter-insurgency operations, field policing and national security investigations to the role.
Parasor succeeds 1996-batch IPS officer Danesh Rana, with the CRPF headquarters issuing her appointment order last week. Her appointment comes as CoBRA continues to operate in challenging forest and insurgency-affected areas, including parts of Manipur. A senior CRPF officer confirmed that this is the first time the 10-battalion force has been headed by a woman.
From Assam To CoBRA
Parasor’s career has been closely linked to some of the country’s most demanding security environments. Originally from Assam, she studied Political Science at Indraprastha College for Women under Delhi University before pursuing higher studies in International Relations at Jawaharlal Nehru University. She secured an All India Rank of 85 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2006 and joined the Indian Police Service, becoming part of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre.
Her early and subsequent field postings in Assam exposed her to areas affected by armed insurgency and required her to work in difficult terrain and security conditions. During her tenure as Superintendent of Police in Sonitpur, she led counter-insurgency operations against the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).
Reports on her work during that period say she was involved in operations that resulted in the killing of 16 militants and the arrest of 64 others. Her frontline role in counter-insurgency operations, including accompanying personnel during field missions, contributed to her being popularly known as the “Iron Lady of Assam”.
Senior IPS officer Sanjukta Parasor takes charge as Inspector General of the CRPF’s elite CoBRA unit, becoming the first woman officer to head the specialised jungle-warfare force.
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) September 16, 2026
A 2006-batch IPS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, Parasor brings extensive experience in… pic.twitter.com/la1mwoZkoE
NIA Experience
Parasor’s professional experience extends beyond field policing. She also served with the National Investigation Agency (NIA), where she worked on national security investigations. An official Assam government civil list records her as being on deputation to the NIA, while recent reports identify her as having served as a Deputy Inspector General with the agency.
The experience gave her exposure to investigations involving terrorism and extremist networks, as well as coordination between different security agencies. Before moving to CoBRA, Parasor was heading the Criminal Investigation Department wing of the Assam Police. Her combination of field-level counter-insurgency experience and investigative work now places her at the helm of a force designed for some of the country’s most difficult operational environments.
Appointment of Smt. Sanjukta Parasor, #IPS (AM:2006) as Inspector General in Central Reserve Police Force (#CRPF) on deputation basis. pic.twitter.com/aUiMnZhPr9
— Jitender Bhardwaj (@journo_jitendra) August 6, 2026
Inside CoBRA
CoBRA, short for Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, is a specialised formation of the CRPF created for guerrilla and jungle warfare. The CRPF says 10 CoBRA units were raised between 2008 and 2011 and deployed across areas affected by Left Wing Extremism and insurgency. Its personnel undergo specialised training in commando tactics and jungle warfare and are equipped for long-range patrols, intelligence-based operations, ambushes, counter-ambushes and missions in areas where improvised explosive devices pose a threat.
The force has played a significant role in anti-Maoist operations in states including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Maharashtra. According to recent reports, CoBRA is currently involved in securing large forest areas reclaimed from Maoist influence, while two of its units have also been deployed in Manipur amid continuing armed violence.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has credited intelligence-led jungle and guerrilla operations by CoBRA with contributing to the campaign against Left Wing Extremism, which the government said had reached a major milestone in March 2026.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Sanjukta Parasor’s appointment brings a woman officer with extensive field and investigative experience into a senior operational command traditionally associated with male officers. Her journey from academic study and the civil services examination to difficult field postings, national security investigations and now the leadership of CoBRA also reflects the widening roles available to women within India’s security institutions.
At the same time, security operations in conflict-affected regions involve more than operational capability. Protecting civilians, understanding local communities, reducing violence and creating conditions where dialogue and peace can take root remain important alongside security responsibilities.
As more women take on leadership positions in challenging public-service roles, what more can institutions do to create equal opportunities while keeping empathy and community trust at the centre of public service?
