Historic First as IPS Officer Sanjukta Parasor Becomes First Woman to Lead CRPF’s Elite CoBRA Force

Senior IPS officer Dr Sanjukta Parasor has taken charge as Inspector General of the Central Reserve Police Force’s elite CoBRA Sector, becoming the first woman officer to head the specialised jungle-warfare force.

Parasor, a 2006-batch Indian Police Service officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, assumed charge on September 16, 2026. The CRPF’s official CoBRA Sector page now lists her as IG, CoBRA Sector, confirming the appointment.

Her elevation marks a significant milestone within the Central Armed Police Forces, particularly because CoBRA is among the CRPF’s most specialised combat formations and has traditionally operated in some of the country’s most difficult counter-insurgency and Left Wing Extremism environments.

First Woman to Head the CoBRA Sector

CoBRA, or the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, was created by the CRPF to undertake specialised operations in difficult terrain, particularly in areas affected by Left Wing Extremism.

The force consists of 10 battalions trained in jungle warfare, fieldcraft, ambush operations, intelligence-based missions and small-team tactics. Its personnel are deployed in regions where mobility, endurance and the ability to operate independently in forested terrain are essential.

Parasor’s appointment places her at the head of the sector responsible for these battalions and their broader operational and administrative coordination. Her role as Inspector General is therefore substantially different from commanding an individual battalion. She will oversee the specialised force at the sector level, including its operational readiness, training and coordination.

Central Deputation Approved in August

The appointment follows the approval of Parasor’s central deputation to the CRPF earlier this year.

The Ministry of Home Affairs approved her appointment as an Inspector General in the CRPF on central deputation on August 6, 2026. At that stage, the specific formation she would lead had not been publicly identified.

The subsequent decision to place her in charge of the CoBRA Sector was made in early September. She formally assumed the assignment on September 16.

The appointment is notable because leadership positions within highly specialised combat formations have historically been dominated by male officers, even as women officers have steadily moved into operational and command roles across the police and Central Armed Police Forces.

Experience in Counter-Insurgency and Policing

Parasor brings extensive field experience from policing and counter-insurgency duties in Assam.

Over the course of her career, she has served in several operationally sensitive assignments and has worked in areas affected by insurgency and organised violence. Her background includes district policing, intelligence-linked responsibilities and senior administrative roles within the Assam Police.

Her experience in the Northeast is particularly relevant to an organisation such as CoBRA, where commanders must deal with difficult terrain, decentralised operations, intelligence-driven missions and forces operating far from conventional bases.

Her appointment therefore carries significance beyond the fact that she is the first woman to hold the position. It also places an officer with substantial field and counter-insurgency experience in charge of one of the CRPF’s most specialised formations.

What CoBRA Does

CoBRA was raised from 2008 onwards as a specialised CRPF formation for operations against armed insurgent groups, particularly Maoist formations operating in forested areas.

Its commandos undergo training in jungle warfare, navigation, survival, explosives, weapons handling, intelligence collection and small-unit tactics. Unlike conventional formations that may operate from fixed bases and larger deployments, CoBRA units are designed to conduct mobile and intelligence-led operations in difficult terrain.

The battalions have been deployed extensively in Left Wing Extremism-affected areas, where their role includes reconnaissance, area domination and targeted operations against armed groups.

Their training and organisation reflect the unusual demands of jungle operations, where conventional vehicles, communications and large formations may have limited effectiveness.

Wider Significance for Women in Uniform

Parasor’s appointment comes amid a broader expansion of women’s roles across India’s security forces.

Women officers have increasingly moved into operational, command and specialised assignments within the police, Central Armed Police Forces and armed forces. The transition has gradually expanded beyond administrative and support roles into formations requiring field leadership and operational responsibility.

Leading the CoBRA Sector is particularly significant because the formation is closely associated with high-risk operations and difficult field deployments.

The appointment therefore represents another step in the gradual removal of institutional barriers that once restricted women from senior operational commands within India’s internal-security forces.

Command of One of CRPF’s Most Specialised Formations

As IG CoBRA Sector, Parasor will be responsible for overseeing a force whose operational effectiveness depends heavily on training, intelligence, mobility and coordination with state police and other security agencies.

The position also involves maintaining readiness across multiple battalions deployed in different operational areas while ensuring that training and equipment remain suited to changing threats.

Her appointment comes at a time when the security environment in Left Wing Extremism-affected regions has changed considerably, with security forces increasingly relying on better intelligence, communications, drones and surveillance systems alongside conventional jungle-warfare skills.

For the CRPF, the appointment represents continuity in professional command while also setting an institutional precedent. Dr Sanjukta Parasor becoming the first woman Inspector General of the CoBRA Sector places a woman officer at the head of one of India’s most demanding specialised internal-security formations for the first time.

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