Bhubaneswar, November 4: An Odia youth from Jagatsinghpur district has been abducted by a militant group in Sudan, according to police reports on Tuesday. Superintendent of Police (SP) Ankit Verma stated that the incident occurred in 2022, when the youth had traveled to Sudan for work. The police have been maintaining consistent communication with the victim's family.

The victim, identified as Adarsha Behera from Kotakana in the Tirtol police jurisdiction, was taken hostage by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a notorious paramilitary faction involved in Sudan's ongoing civil conflict.

Adarsha's wife, Susmita Behera, informed that armed rebels kidnapped her husband, confiscating his mobile phone and personal items. Before the abduction, Adarsha managed to send a voice message to his wife, suggesting that he could be released if both the state and central governments intervened. Susmita has now appealed to the Odisha government to take swift action for the safe release of her husband.

SP Ankit Verma assured that the Odisha government, in coordination with the Union Home Ministry and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), is taking every step to facilitate the safe return of the abducted youth. "Adarsha had gone to Sudan for work in 2022, and it was there that the civil war erupted. We have received confirmation that he has been abducted by a militant group. We are in regular contact with his family to provide them with updates," Verma stated.

The Jagatsinghpur police are actively involved in addressing the abduction. "As soon as we learned about the incident, we alerted the state police headquarters. The Director General of Police (DGP) and the Intelligence Department have been informed. Additionally, the Union Home Ministry and MEA are fully engaged and have been taking all necessary measures," said SP Verma.

Efforts are ongoing to ensure the safe return of Adarsha Behera, who has been in Sudan for nearly two years. The police remain hopeful that the situation will be resolved promptly.