New Delhi: The CRPF’s elite jungle warfare force has a woman at the helm for the first time, with Sanjukta Parashar taking charge as inspector general of the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA). Her appointment places an officer with extensive counterinsurgency experience in command of one of the force’s most specialized operational units.
CoBRA was raised to conduct operations in environments where conventional forces face the greatest challenges, particularly dense forests and difficult terrain. Its commandos are trained in guerrilla warfare, long-range operations, ambushes and counter ambushes, IED response and intelligence-led missions against armed militants, especially left-wing extremists, otherwise known as Naxalites or Maoists.
This unit has seen considerable use in anti-Maoist operations in central and eastern India. Members of this unit have worked in various states such as Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and Maharashtra, where they were engaged on lengthy assignments in dense forests and hostile terrain.
The experiences that Parashar gained from her posting in Assam are similar to what she will require for her new posting. Her postings in insurgency affected areas have had to deal with anti-insurgency activities involving militants.
Her activities in Assam have also made her earn the title “Iron Lady of Assam” due to her reputation of having taken up difficult tasks. She gained fame for conducting counterinsurgency operations when she was posted to Sonitpur.
Parashar then went on to work for the National Investigation Agency (NIA), where she was a DIG. Her cases were connected to terror and extremism, giving her national security investigation experience.
Such an experience can be useful in CoBRA missions, where not only fighting expertise but also intelligence plays a very important role. Targeting based on intelligence and ability to evaluate the changing situation on the ground are crucial for the operation carried out by counterinsurgency specialists.
Parashar joined the IPS in 2006 after securing an all-India rank of 85 in the UPSC civil services examination. She studied Political Science at Indraprastha College, Delhi University, before pursuing higher education in International Relations at Jawaharlal Nehru University, according to India Today.
Her career since joining the police service has combined field command with assignments linked to national security. Her move to CoBRA now brings that experience to a force specifically designed for high-risk operations in some of the country’s most challenging terrain, like in Jammu & Kashmir, where CoBra units are being deployed currently.