Miraculous Homecoming: Odisha Man Returns After 45-Day Hostage Ordeal in Sudan

Adarsh Behera, a 36-year-old man from Odisha who had disappeared from Al-Fashir city in Sudan's North Darfur state, returned safely to his home state on Wednesday after being held hostage for 45 days.

Bhubaneswar:

The return of Adarsh Behera after 45 days of captivity in Sudan brought immense relief and happiness to his family and well-wishers in Odisha on Wednesday.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed his delight at Behera's safe return, emphasizing that the state government had taken immediate and serious action upon learning about his disappearance.

In a statement shared on X, Majhi wrote, "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."

The Chief Minister extended his gratitude to the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Sudan for successfully completing this rescue mission.

He further assured, "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."

Behera had disappeared from Al-Fashir city in Sudan's North Darfur region. A senior official confirmed that the Indian government secured his release with assistance from international intermediaries.

Upon arriving at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, where his family including his three-year-old son were waiting, Behera shared his harrowing experience: "It is a rebirth for me. I was not expecting to remain alive after being abducted by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia in Sudan. They tortured me a lot, denied food for days and put in a jail and forced to walk in jungle. Thank God that they did not kill me. Everything was possible for them."

Behera, who comes from Kotakana village in Jagatsinghpur district, had traveled to civil war-torn Sudan in 2022 to work as a mechanic in a plastic factory.

Following his release, Behera traveled from Abu Dhabi to Hyderabad late Tuesday night before reaching Bhubaneswar airport Wednesday morning.

Jagatsinghpur MP Bibhu Prasad Tarai mentioned that he had raised this issue in the Lok Sabha and urged the Ministry of External Affairs to intervene for Behera's safe release.

Behera's wife made a heartfelt request: "I would request the Odisha government and Chief Minister Majhi to arrange employment for my husband in any plastic factory in the state so that he would not require to go to another country to earn a living."