Sanjukta Parashar becomes first woman to head CRPF’s CoBRA unit

Dr. Sanjukta Parashar, a 2006-batch Indian Police Service officer from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, has assumed charge as the Inspector General of the Central Reserve Police Force’s (CRPF) elite Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA). She is the first woman to lead this specialized jungle-warfare unit, which consists of ten battalions.

Parashar succeeds Danesh Rana, a 1996-batch IPS officer. Her appointment follows a central deputation by the Ministry of Home Affairs. CoBRA was established in 2008–09 to conduct intelligence-based guerrilla warfare against Left Wing Extremism and insurgency in various Indian states, including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Maharashtra. The unit has also been deployed in Manipur to address armed violence.

Additionally, the CRPF announced the posting of V K Birdi as the new Inspector General of the CRPF VIP security wing, replacing Sunil Joon.