First Woman to Lead CoBRA, Sanjukta Parasor on Why Policing Must Move Beyond Gender
Parasor, an Assam-Meghalaya cadre IPS officer of the 2006 batch, has been appointed Inspector General of the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA).
By Sakshi
New Delhi, September 16: Indian Police Service officer Sanjukta Parasor has become the first woman to head the CRPF's specialised jungle warfare commando unit, CoBRA, marking a significant milestone for women in India's security forces.
Parasor, an Assam-Meghalaya cadre IPS officer of the 2006 batch, has been appointed Inspector General of the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA). The Central Reserve Police Force headquarters issued an order to this effect last week.
Parasor will succeed 1996-batch IPS officer Danesh Rana as the IG of CoBRA.
“This is the first time that the ten-battalion-strong CoBRA of the CRPF will be headed by a woman officer,” a senior officer told PTI.
From Assam to CoBRA
Parasor has previously served in the National Investigation Agency (NIA), besides holding various positions in her cadre state of Assam.
The CRPF raised CoBRA in 2008-09 to tackle Left Wing Extremism in several Indian states and insurgency in parts of the Northeast. The force has also deployed two CoBRA units in Manipur to counter armed violence.
The unit's commandos have been credited by the Ministry of Home Affairs with conducting successful intelligence-based jungle warfare and guerrilla operations against Maoist insurgents.
What Parasor Says About Women in Policing
Parasor's appointment also brings into focus her views on the role of women in policing. She has previously said that women police officers often have to prove themselves at every stage, with some people viewing them with suspicion and assuming they may “play the gender card”.
She has argued for moving away from gender-specific concepts such as women police stations and female help desks, saying policing roles should be gender-neutral.
According to Parasor, a woman officer can head a regular police station just as a man can, an approach she said could help promote greater gender neutrality in the police force.
Parasor has also said that the core challenges faced by male and female police officers are largely similar, including interference from seniors, bureaucrats, politicians and influential people in society.
Her Message to Women Aspirants
She has described the police as the most visible executive arm of the government, with responsibilities ranging from crime prevention, detection and investigation to maintaining public law and order.
Addressing women aspiring to join the IPS, Parasor has encouraged them to enter the service with the right attitude and aptitude. She has also said that she manages stress through running or swimming and by spending time with friends and family.
In another appointment, the CRPF order said V K Birdi, a 2003-batch IPS officer, would take over as the new IG of the force's VIP security branch. He will replace Sunil Joon, a CRPF cadre officer who has been posted to the force's officers' academy in Gurugram.
