Sanjukta Parashar: First Woman to Lead CRPF’s Elite CoBRA Force

Sanjukta Parashar: First Woman to Lead CRPF’s Elite CoBRA Force

Introduction

• Historic Appointment: IPS officer Dr. Sanjukta Parashar has become the first woman to head the CRPF’s special CoBRA force. Her appointment is an important step in giving women senior leadership roles in India’s specialised security forces.
• New Position: She has taken charge as Inspector General (IG), CoBRA Sector. She has succeeded Danesh Rana, a 1996-batch IPS officer, who was earlier holding this position.
• Service Batch: Sanjukta Parashar belongs to the 2006-batch IPS of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre. During her career, she has worked with both the Assam Police and the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
• Historic First: Her appointment is important because the 10-battalion CoBRA formation had never before been headed by a woman officer. She is therefore the first woman to lead this specialised force.

Who Is Sanjukta Parashar?

• IPS Officer: Sanjukta Parashar is an IPS officer from Assam. During her career, she has gained experience in counter-insurgency operations, field policing and national-security investigations.
• Academic Background: She studied Political Science at Indraprastha College, University of Delhi. Later, she studied International Relations at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
• UPSC Selection: She cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2006 and joined the Indian Police Service (IPS) after her selection.
• Assam Service: During her service in Assam, she worked in areas affected by insurgency. She also gained experience in dealing with security problems in difficult and forested areas.
• Popular Title: Because of her work in counter-insurgency operations, some sections of the media have referred to her as the “Iron Lady of Assam.”

Counter-Insurgency Experience

• Field Operations: Her earlier postings in Assam gave her direct experience of operations against armed insurgent groups. She also worked in difficult security situations where quick decisions and strong field experience were important.
• Sonitpur Posting: According to reports, she was especially associated with counter-insurgency operations during her time as Superintendent of Police in Sonitpur.
• Difficult Terrain: Her earlier field experience is useful in her new position because CoBRA mainly works in forested, remote and difficult areas. Such areas require special training and knowledge of jungle operations.
• Professional Experience: Her career has given her experience in both field policing and senior administrative and security work. This combination is important for her present responsibility in the CoBRA Sector.

National Investigation Agency

• NIA Service: Sanjukta Parashar has also served with the National Investigation Agency (NIA). During her time there, she worked on matters related to national security and counter-terror investigations.
• Investigative Experience: Her work in the NIA gave her experience in investigation and national-security matters. This added another important area of experience to her earlier work in the field.
• Modern Operations: Counter-insurgency work today is not limited to fighting on the ground. It also involves collecting intelligence, carrying out investigations, coordinating with other agencies and planning operations.
• Combined Expertise: Her experience in different areas, including field operations and investigations, gives her a wide professional background for her new role as the head of the CoBRA Sector.

What Is CoBRA?

• Full Form: CoBRA stands for Commando Battalion for Resolute Action. It is a special force working under the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
• Specialised Force: CoBRA is specially trained for guerrilla and jungle warfare. Its main role is to deal with extremists and insurgents, especially in areas where normal forces may face difficult conditions.
• Ten Battalions: The Government authorised the CRPF to raise 10 CoBRA battalions. These units were raised between 2008-09 and 2010-11.
• Specialised Training: CoBRA personnel receive special training for ambushes, counter-ambushes, long-range patrols, intelligence-based operations and dealing with threats such as improvised explosive devices (IEDs). This training prepares them to work in difficult and dangerous areas.

CoBRA Responsibilities

• Administrative Control: The CoBRA Sector has administrative control over 10 CoBRA units. These units are deployed in areas affected by Left Wing Extremism.
• Deployment States: CoBRA units are deployed in different states, including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Assam. These deployments help in dealing with security challenges in affected areas.
• Personnel Training: The CoBRA Sector is responsible for the selection and training of personnel who join CoBRA. It also provides the required logistical support so that the units can remain ready for operations.
• Gallantry Awards: According to the CRPF, CoBRA personnel have received many gallantry awards for their service and bravery during difficult operational conditions.

Current Security Context

• Operational Role: Sanjukta Parashar is taking charge at a time when CoBRA continues to play an important role in counter-insurgency and internal-security operations in different parts of the country.
• Manipur Deployment: According to reports, two CoBRA units were recently deployed in Manipur in response to armed violence. This shows that the force can also be used when specialised security support is required in other areas.
• LWE Operations: CoBRA continues to work in areas affected by Left Wing Extremism. A major part of its work is carried out in forested regions where special jungle-warfare skills are needed.

Women Leadership

• Leadership Milestone: Sanjukta Parashar’s appointment is another important milestone in the increasing presence of women officers in senior operational positions in the CRPF.
• Other Formations: Reports state that women officers are already leading other CRPF formations and sectors, including formations covering Jammu, the Northeast, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
• Senior Roles: Her appointment shows that women officers are increasingly taking up senior leadership positions involving specialised operational duties in India’s security forces.
• Selection Background: Her appointment is also connected with her professional experience in field policing, counter-insurgency and national-security work. Therefore, her career background is an important part of her new responsibility along with the fact that she is the first woman to lead CoBRA.

Important Questions

1. Who is Sanjukta Parashar and which historic position has she recently taken in the CRPF?
2. What is CoBRA, and what are its main functions and areas of operation?
3. What educational and professional background does Sanjukta Parashar have?
4. What special responsibilities and training are associated with the CoBRA force?
5. Why is Sanjukta Parashar’s appointment important for women officers in India’s security forces?

Conclusion

Dr. Sanjukta Parashar’s appointment as IG of CoBRA is a historic development for the CRPF. As the first woman to lead the 10-battalion CoBRA Sector, she takes responsibility for a specialised force that works in some of India’s most difficult counter-insurgency areas. Her experience in counter-insurgency operations in Assam and her service in the NIA gives her experience in both field operations and national-security investigations. Her appointment also adds to the growing number of women taking senior leadership positions in India’s central armed police forces.