From praying to avoid dreaded RSF, to watching ‘RRR’ on Indian rescue ship

Nagpur: Resting at his quiet home in Mangalwari, Ashraf Khan is thankful to God for not having encountered the dreaded Rapid Security Force (RSF) during his escape from Sudan. The 66-year-old, who supplies industrial boilers, had gone to the war-torn country on a business trip. He was accompanied by a colleague, 25-year-old Samiksha Yadav from Mumbai. Ashraf reached home on Wednesday after being stranded in the war-torn country for a fortnight.
“Had they got to us and if I would have tried to save Samiksha, RSF would have shot me down. Not resisting would have left me with a lifelong guilt. Concerned about her safety, I kept praying all through the road journey and was concerned about her safety. I had heard horrifying stories about RSF atrocities on women. We were stopped on the way but only by the army which is the rival faction. Though I was scared from within, I did not let her realize that,” says Ashraf.
Ashraf and Samiksha undertook a 1,200-km journey from Kenana town till Port Sudan from where they were evacuated by the Indian Navy. Khan was relieved after he reached the rescue ship INS Teg. The weary traveller enjoyed watching RRR movie screened by the Navy on board the ship.
“We reached Sudan on April 11 and were supposed to return on April 18, but, then, the war broke out. I heard gunshots from the hotel room and soon there were jets flying over us.
“Around April 16, the Indian embassy contacted the stranded persons who were asked to fill up google forms and reach Port Sudan for evacuation. The officials knew about our location but did not make any arrangement for us to reach Port Sudan. From different corners of the country, we had to travel on our own. A WhatsApp group was formed in which only admins could post. Frantic calls to the Indian embassy went unanswered,” said Ashraf.