New Delhi, Sept. 16 -- IPS officer Sanjukta Parashar has become the first woman to head the Central Reserve Police Force's elite Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), taking charge as its Inspector General (IG). A 2006-batch officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, Parashar is known for her field experience in counter-insurgency operations in Assam.

Parashar succeeds 1996-batch IPS officer Danesh Rana as the IG of the specialised force. The appointment marks the first time a woman officer has been placed at the helm of CoBRA, a 10-battalion formation trained primarily for jungle warfare and counter-insurgency operations. CoBRA, which stands for Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, was established to conduct operations in difficult and forested terrain. The unit has played a major role in operations against Left Wing Extremism and has also been deployed in areas affected by insurgency in the Northeast.

Parashar has spent a significant part of her career in Assam, including assignments in areas affected by insurgency. Her operational experience in the Northeast has contributed to her reputation as the "Iron Lady of Assam", a name by which she is widely known. The IPS officer has also served with the National Investigation Agency (NIA), adding experience in national-security investigations to her field background. Her career has therefore included both operational assignments and work related to counter-terrorism and security investigations. Parashar pursued her higher education in Delhi and holds academic qualifications in political science and international relations. She joined the IPS after securing an All India Rank of 85 in the 2006 Civil Services Examination.

Her appointment comes as CoBRA continues to be deployed for operations in challenging security environments. Two CoBRA battalions were recently deployed in Manipur amid efforts to contain armed violence in the state. With Parashar now leading the specialised force, her appointment represents a significant development in the representation of women in senior operational positions within India's central armed police forces.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.