An Indian national from Odisha, 36-year-old Adarsh Behera, has been abducted in conflict-ravaged Sudan, with a troubling video surfacing that shows him surrounded by armed members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). In the footage, one of the rebels asks him whether he knows Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, while another orders him to praise their commander, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, by saying “Dagalo good” on camera. This unsettling interaction underscores the chaotic and unpredictable situation civilians like Behera face in the Sudanese conflict.
Behera, who had been working at a plastic manufacturing unit in Al Fashir since 2022, was kidnapped in October while returning from work. He is believed to be held in Nyala, South Darfur, an area considered a major RSF hub. The RSF is currently locked in a violent struggle with Sudan’s national army, and the region has become a dangerous battleground marked by civilian targeting and abductions. In another video shared by his family, Behera appears visibly distressed, sitting on the floor with folded hands and pleading for help, saying that he has been living in harsh conditions for the past two years and begging the authorities in India to intervene.
His family in Jagatsinghpur has been unable to contact him for days and is in a state of extreme anxiety. His wife, Susmita, described their last interaction, saying he called from an unknown number while crying and told her he had been abducted by armed rebels. According to her, he said he might be released if authorities like the Indian Embassy or the Red Cross establish contact with his captors. Their two young children, aged eight and three, remain unaware of the gravity of the situation, while relatives continue to wait for updates.
The Odisha government has taken cognizance of the matter and formally approached the Ministry of External Affairs, urging swift intervention. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has directed state officials to coordinate with Indian diplomats, assuring Behera’s family that all possible measures will be taken to secure his release. Opposition leader Naveen Patnaik has also appealed publicly, urging the central government to act with urgency and work with the Sudanese authorities.
Local law enforcement officials have shared details with the central agencies and the MEA, while the family has been left hoping that diplomatic outreach will lead to a breakthrough. The kidnapping comes at a time when Sudan remains engulfed in a brutal conflict between the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces, a war that erupted in April 2023. According to UN figures, it has displaced more than 13 million people and plunged several regions, including Darfur and Khartoum, into a severe humanitarian crisis.
While efforts are ongoing to bring Behera safely home, his case highlights the increasing risks faced by Indian workers in unstable foreign regions, especially in active conflict zones where law and order have collapsed and civilian safety is deeply compromised.
