Iron Lady of Assam, Sanjukta Parashar Becomes First Woman Officer to Lead CRPF’s CoBRA

When an elite force built for some of the country’s toughest terrains gets its first woman commander, it is a moment that stands out.Senior IPS officer Sanjukta Parashar, popularly known as the “Iron Lady of Assam”, has taken charge as Inspector General of the Central Reserve Police Force’s elite CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action). She is the first woman officer to head the specialised jungle-warfare force.A 2006-batch IPS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, Parashar brings years of experience in counter-insurgency operations, field policing and national security investigations to the demanding assignment. She succeeds 1996-batch IPS officer Danesh Rana as IG, CoBRA.Built for the Toughest TerrainCoBRA is among the CRPF’s most specialised operational formations. Its commandos are trained for jungle and guerrilla warfare, including long-range patrols, intelligence-based missions, ambushes and counter-ambushes.Operating in dense forests, hilly terrain and areas affected by armed violence demands physical endurance, tactical awareness and quick decision-making. CoBRA units have been deployed extensively in anti-Maoist operations across states including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Maharashtra.Two CoBRA units were also recently deployed in Manipur amid efforts to check armed violence. Parashar’s extensive field experience makes her new role particularly notable.The Making of the ‘Iron Lady’Parashar’s reputation was forged during some of her earliest and most challenging assignments in Assam. Her first posting came in 2008 as an Assistant Commandant in Makum. She later served in Udalguri during a period of violent clashes involving Bodo groups and migrants from Bangladesh.But it was her tenure as Superintendent of Police in Sonitpur that brought her national attention. During 2013–14, she led operations against the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB). The operations resulted in 16 militants being killed and 64 arrested, according to reports.Images of Parashar accompanying security personnel during operations, including one showing her carrying an AK-47, drew widespread attention. Her field presence and counter-insurgency work earned her the moniker “Iron Lady of Assam” and also led to death threats from Bodo militants.From the Northeast to National SecurityParashar’s career has also taken her beyond frontline policing. She served as a Deputy Inspector General with the National Investigation Agency (NIA), handling investigations connected with terrorism, extremism and national security.Her academic journey is equally distinctive. She studied Political Science at Indraprastha College for Women, Delhi University, before pursuing International Relations at Jawaharlal Nehru University. She went on to complete an MPhil and PhD focused on US foreign policy.Now, as she takes charge of CoBRA, Parashar adds another milestone to a career shaped by demanding assignments and operational policing. Her appointment also reflects the growing presence of women officers in leadership positions within the CRPF, including operationally intensive roles.