Who is Adarsh Behra? The Indian Abducted in Sudan by Deadly RSF Militia

Bhubaneswar/New Delhi: The life of an ordinary laborer from the Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha suddenly became a sacrifice of war. 36-year-old Adarsh ​​Behra was kidnapped by the rebel group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan. This news came to light on Monday through a viral video on social media. Families are desperate, and governments are working together to bring him home. The case appears to be part of Sudan's deadly civil war, where thousands of people have been killed and millions left homeless.

Who is Adarsh ​​Behra?

Adarsh ​​Behra is an ordinary Indian who moved to Sudan two years ago (in 2022) in search of better earnings. There he worked at the Sukriti Plastics Factory in Al-Fashir City. His home is in Jagatsinghpur, where his family lives. His wife, Sushmita, said that he used to call every day, but now there are no calls for some days. Children ask, When will Papa come?" Many Indians like Adarsh ​​go there for labor, but the war turns everything upside down.

Where does kidnapping take place?

Last week, RSF fighters captured Adarsh ​​in al-Fashir. The city is about 1,000 kilometers from Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, and is part of the Darfur region. According to sources, he was taken to Nyala, an RSF stronghold. Sudan has been burning in civil war since April 2023—the army (SAF) on one side, the RSF on the other. RSF is considered very dangerous; in October itself, they attacked a hospital and killed more than 400 people. Adarsh ​​probably got stuck at the wrong place at the wrong time. 

What was shown in the video?

Some videos have gone viral on social media. In one, Adarsh ​​is sitting with folded palms, fear clearly visible on his face. He says, "I request the Odisha government to save me. The situation here has been very bad for the last two years." In a video, an RSF fighter asks him, "Do you know Shahrukh Khan?" Hearing these questions gives goosebumps—as if they are making fun. Adarsh ​​looks upset but doesn't seem hurt. These videos seem to have been shared by RSF itself, perhaps to create pressure.

What is the government doing?

The family members are tired of crying. Sushmita says, "He was the sole breadwinner. What will happen now?" Former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik tweeted and sought immediate help from the Ministry of External Affairs. On the other hand, Sudan's Indian Ambassador Mohammad Abdullah Ali Eltom said, "We are in constant touch with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. Adarsh ​​will be kept well, and efforts are being made to return him safely soon." The Indian government is also active—the embassy is talking to local officials. But access is difficult in the war-torn area.

This is not the story of just one person but of thousands of Indians who work hard in foreign countries. The war in Sudan is not ending yet, and in such a situation, people like Adarsh ​​are the most trapped.