Odia Man Abducted in Sudan Returns Home Safely After Month‑Long Ordeal
Bhubaneswar, Dec 17: Relief swept through Kotakana village in Jagatsinghpur district as Adarsh Behera, an Odia man abducted in Sudan’s conflict‑hit Darfur region, reunited with his family after nearly a month in captivity.
Behera, who had been working at a plastic manufacturing company in Al Fashir since 2022, was stranded when fighting escalated.
Last month, while visiting his workplace, he was reportedly captured by members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Videos sent to his family showed him being held in a remote forested area, sparking widespread concern.
Speaking after his return, Behera recounted the harsh conditions he endured. “They beat me mercilessly when they first captured me. Later, I was kept in a cell with no lights or fans. Sometimes I was given bread, sometimes just one biscuit,” he said.
The matter was raised in Parliament by Jagatsinghpur MP Bibhu Prasad Tarai, prompting intensified diplomatic efforts. Indian authorities coordinated with international partners to secure Behera’s release.
His wife, Sasmita Behera, expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, and the Indian Embassy for their constant support.
Behera’s journey home took him from Abu Dhabi to Hyderabad late Tuesday night, before arriving in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday morning.
He is now set to return to his native village, ending a traumatic chapter marked by conflict, captivity, and uncertainty.
