India working to free national captured by RSF in Sudan’s El Fasher

November 7, 2025 (NEW DELHI) – India’s External Affairs Ministry confirmed Friday that an Indian national has been captured by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia in Sudan, and efforts are underway with the Sudanese government and international organizations to secure his release.

“One Indian national is in the custody of the RSF. As you know, there is fighting going on in the El-Fasher region,” ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a weekly media briefing.

“We are in contact with the Sudan government and international organisations so that the Indian national can be safely freed and we can ensure his security,” he said.

The captured individual was identified as Adarsh Behera, a 36-year-old resident of Odisha. He was reportedly taken away by RSF fighters when the militia captured the city of El Fasher last month.

Earlier this week, Sudanese ambassador Mohamed Abdalla Ali Eltom stated that authorities in his country were in touch with Indian officials regarding the abduction.

“We hope that he is not harmed by the militia. The situation is unpredictable; you never know what they will do,” Eltom had told reporters.

Officials stated that the Indian embassy, based in Port Sudan, is closely monitoring the situation. Sudan’s embassy in New Delhi has also been in touch with the external affairs ministry and the foreign ministry in Port Sudan to coordinate release efforts.