Escape from Sudan: From praying to avoid 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.
“Our sugar factory clients left us after 300kms at Madni town. From there we took us a bus. Samiksha and I were the only Indians in the vehicle. The bus was stopped a number of times. Each time, I was the only person to be questioned by the soldiers. Thankfully, we were only stopped by the army who let us go after questioning,” said Ashraf.
“We were passing through the desert and had heard stories of civilians being robbed. Our only fear was about the bus breaking down in middle of the desert,” says Samiksha.
Ashraf’s group finally boarded INS Teg on April 28. “We had a warm welcome and the hospitality made us forget all the hardships,” he said.
Ashraf narrates the stories of those who he met on the journey. “There was Farhan who had married a Sudanese woman. The neighbour’s home was bombed which killed his wife and daughter. Farhan sent his wife and daughter to their relative’s home and came back to India alone as evacuation was only meant for Indian citizens. Another woman from Gujarat had left her husband and 85-year old father-in-law as the latter refused to leave as they have been in Sudan since many years. I also met many Indians who said they were looted by the RSF,” he said.