Adarsh Behera, an Odia technician, has finally been able to return home to his family after a nightmarish bout as a captive of armed rebels in war-torn Sudan. Adarsh arrived in Bhubaneswar Wednesday morning, marking the end of a nightmarish journey when he was kidnapped, beaten up, and held captive in a forest cell during the rising intensity of the civil war there.
He was working at a plastic production company in Al Fashir, which is the capital of Darfur State in Sudan, since 2022. His company closed due to the rising conflict between the armed forces of Sudan and the Rapid Support Forces when Behera found himself stranded. The situation took a turn for the worse last month when Behera, after posting a video message pleading for evacuation, was abducted by RSF members while visiting his former workplace.
The captive’s family in Jagatsinghpur was left in distress after receiving videos showing him held in a forested area. While the treatment slightly improved once the group's leader realised he was a civilian, he was kept in a dark, stifling cell with no basic amenities, surviving on a diet of bread or single biscuits.
His rescue was the result of a coordinated diplomatic effort. After Jagatsinghpur MP Bibhu Prasad Tarai raised the issue in Parliament, the Indian government utilised diplomatic channels to negotiate his release.
His wife, Sasmita Behera, who spearheaded the local efforts to save him underscored how that the Indian Embassy and government officials maintained constant communication with her, offering reassurance she needed. She extended her thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Odisha Chief Minister, and the diplomatic teams for ensuring her husband's safe return. After a long journey and a narrow escape from a conflict zone, Behera is now reuniting with his loved ones in his native village.
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