Assam's 'Iron Lady' becomes first woman to lead CRPF's elite jungle warfare force
Sanjukta Parashar, a 2006-batch IPS officer known as the “Iron Lady of Assam”, has taken charge as Inspector General of the CRPF’s elite CoBRA unit, becoming the first woman to command the specialised jungle warfare force.
Her appointment, announced last month, is significant given her long experience in counter-insurgency operations and field postings in Assam.
CoBRA, or Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, is specifically trained for guerrilla and jungle warfare, including long-range operations in dense forests, ambushes and counter-ambushes, IED threats, intelligence-based operations and precision action against armed militants.
The appointment brings together Parashar’s field experience in insurgency-affected areas and her experience in national security investigations, including her stint as a DIG with the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Parashar’s career in Assam established her reputation as an officer willing to take on difficult operational challenges.
During her initial postings, she worked in areas affected by insurgency, dealing with dense forests, armed militants and constantly changing security conditions.
Her active participation in counter-insurgency operations and field leadership earned her the sobriquet “Iron Lady of Assam”.
Her new role brings her back into the command of a force whose operational requirements closely mirror the experience she gained during those years in Assam.
The same officer who earned a reputation for leading anti-insurgency operations in Assam’s forests will now command one of the country’s premier jungle warfare forces.
Parashar’s professional journey began with an academic background in political science and international relations.
She studied Political Science at Indraprastha College, Delhi University, before pursuing higher education in International Relations at Jawaharlal Nehru University.
In 2006, she secured an All India Rank of 85 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination and joined the IPS, choosing the police service over the administrative service.
Her subsequent career included field postings as well as assignments dealing with national security.NIA EXPERIENCE ADDS ANOTHER DIMENSION
Parashar’s experience with the NIA is another important aspect of her career.
As a DIG at the NIA, she gained experience of investigating national security matters, understanding networks linked to terrorism and extremism, and coordinating with different agencies.
That experience complements her operational background. For a specialised force such as CoBRA, modern security operations involve more than combat skills and field deployment. Intelligence gathering, accurate information, operational planning and the ability to adapt strategies during missions are also critical.
Parashar therefore brings experience from two distinct areas — ground-level counter-insurgency operations and national security investigations.A FORCE BUILT FOR JUNGLE WARFARE
CoBRA is among the CRPF’s most elite operational units and was created specifically to deal with guerrilla and jungle warfare.
Its commandos are trained to conduct long-range operations on foot in dense forests and difficult terrain, carry out ambushes and counter-ambushes, respond to IED threats and undertake intelligence-based operations against armed militants.
The unit has played a key role in anti-Maoist operations in states including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Maharashtra, operating in terrain that presents significant challenges to security forces.- EndsPublished By: Karishma Saurabh KalitaPublished On: Sep 15, 2026 13:15 IST
