Assam's Iron Lady scripts history as the first woman to lead CRPF's elite CoBRA unit: Meet Sanjukta Parashar, the IPS officer known for her fearless field career

IPS officer Sanjukta Parashar, popularly called the Iron Lady of Assam, has created history by becoming the first woman Inspector General to lead the Central Reserve Police Force’s elite Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, or CoBRA. CRPF headquarters issued her appointment order on September 10, 2026, after which she took charge of the 10-battalion force, succeeding 1996-batch IPS officer Danesh Rana. CoBRA is the CRPF’s specialised force trained for jungle and guerrilla warfare, long-range operations in forest areas, ambush and counter-ambush tactics, and targeted operations against armed insurgents. The unit remains closely involved in anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, while two of its battalions are also deployed in Manipur amid the state’s continuing ethnic tensions.A career built in the field, not behind a deskParashar is a 2006 batch IPS officer of the Assam Meghalaya cadre, and her path to this appointment has been shaped largely through demanding field postings rather than administrative roles. She earned the nickname Iron Lady of Assam during her tenure as Superintendent of Police in Sonitpur district between 2013 and 2014, where she led a tough crackdown on the National Democratic Front of Bodoland, reportedly neutralising 16 Bodo militants and arresting more than five dozen insurgents within just 15 months.Her career later expanded into national security investigations when she joined the National Investigation Agency, where she served first as a Superintendent of Police and was later promoted to Deputy Inspector General during her tenure there between 2017 and 2023, working on counter terrorism cases, including an investigation into a train blast case in Madhya Pradesh. Before her CRPF posting, she headed the Criminal Investigation Department of Assam Police. On the academic side, Parashar studied Political Science at Indraprastha College for Women, Delhi University, before going on to pursue International Relations at Jawaharlal Nehru University. Born in October 1979, she completed her early education in Assam before moving to Delhi for higher studies.What her appointment means for women in the security forcesParashar's posting is being seen as a significant milestone, not just for her individually, but for the broader representation of women in India's central armed police forces. She is now among seven women IPS officers currently serving as Inspector Generals across different CRPF formations, with women also currently heading sectors in Jammu, the Rapid Action Force, the Northeast, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. A senior CRPF officer confirmed to news agencies that this marks the first time in the force's history that CoBRA, since its inception, has been headed by a woman officer. Rather than being a purely symbolic appointment, the role places Parashar in direct charge of personnel regularly deployed in some of the country's most physically demanding and high risk operational environments, from dense forest terrain to active insurgency zones.Her appointment also comes at a notable moment for the CRPF more broadly, with the force's current chief, Gyanendra Pratap Singh, also hailing from the same Assam Meghalaya cadre. For young women eyeing a career in India's security and paramilitary forces, Parashar's rise to lead one of the CRPF's most specialised and physically rigorous units sends a clear signal that command of frontline combat focused units is no longer out of reach.Looking for trusted parenting advice? Follow TOI Parenting Circle on Instagram for expert guidance, relatable stories, and practical tips delivered every day.Get the latest Lifestyle News and more. Download the TOI app.