Bhubaneswar: A man from Odisha, who was abducted and held hostage by armed groups in civil war-torn Sudan, safely returned to his native village in Jagatsinghpur district on Wednesday after spending over 45 days in captivity, ending weeks of anxiety for his family.
Adarsh Behera of Kotakana village of Jagatsinghpur arrived in Bhubaneswar this morning after being released and evacuated following coordinated intervention by Indian authorities and diplomatic channels.
As per information, Behera travelled from Abu Dhabi to Hyderabad late on Tuesday and proceeded to Bhubaneswar this morning. His arrival has brought relief to his family.
Adarsh Behera had reportedly been working since 2022 at a plastic manufacturing company in Al Fashir, located in Sudan’s Darfur state. However, work in the company was suspended following conflict and fighting intensified in the region and Behera remained stranded in Sudan.
Subsequently, he was abducted and held hostage by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), an armed group in Sudan, for over 45 days.
Narrating his ordeal after reaching Bhubaneswar, Behera said he was assaulted after being captured. “They beat me mercilessly when they first captured me. They held me thinking that I was a member of the army,” he said. When the group’s leader realised he was a civilian, he was moved to a cell with no basic facilities. Behera said he was grateful to the authorities for securing his release and safe return.
The matter was raised in Parliament by Jagatsinghpur MP Bibhu Prasad Tarai, following which steps were taken at the central level to facilitate Behera’s release through diplomatic engagement.
On the direction of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the Odisha government also wrote to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for quick steps to ensure Behera’s rescue and safe return.
Indian authorities coordinated with agencies involved in evacuation and transit arrangements, leading to his safe movement out of Sudan.
Expressing happiness over Behera’s return, the Chief Minister thanked the Centre for prompt steps taken through the diplomatic channel in this regard. “It is a matter of immense joy that Adarsh Kumar Behera, a young Odia man from Jagatsinghpur district who had gone missing in Sudan, is returning to his homeland safely.” “We had been continuously coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure his safe rescue. Through the swift actions of the Government of India and cooperation with international mediators, Adarsh is returning to his family today,” Majhi posted on X.
He thanked the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Sudan for this successful mission.
“The safety and well-being of every Odia, whether within the state or abroad, is the top priority of our government. In times of crisis, we are always and forever by your side,” he added.
Adarsh’s wife Sasmita said she remained in regular contact with officials during the period of captivity. “I am relieved and happy that my husband is returning after such a long and difficult time,” she said.
Family members thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Majhi.
