Sanjukta Parashar Becomes First Woman IG of CRPF's CoBRA Unit

IPS officer Sanjukta Parashar has been appointed Inspector General of the Central Reserve Police Force's Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), becoming the first woman to head the paramilitary force's specialised jungle warfare commando unit.

Parashar, a 2006-batch officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, takes over from Danesh Rana, a 1996-batch IPS officer who previously held the post.

Born in October 1979, Parashar has served in the National Investigation Agency in addition to her postings in Assam. During her tenure in the state, she led several counterinsurgency operations, particularly in Assam's upper region.

Her early education was completed in Assam before she moved to Delhi for higher studies. She graduated in political science from Indraprastha College, Delhi University, and earned a master's degree in international relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University. She subsequently cleared the Union Public Service Commission examination and joined the Indian Police Service.

The CRPF established CoBRA in 2008-09 to address Left Wing Extremism across several Indian states and insurgency in parts of the Northeast.