Thomas Gabriel Perera was shot while illegally crossing into Israel from Jordan, prompting his family to claim he was a victim of a job scam. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs is working to repatriate his remains. His brother-in-law, who was injured, states they were misled by an agent and disputes the official account of the shooting incident.
The tragic incident involving Mr. Thomas Gabriel Perera, an Indian national who was shot while attempting to cross into Israel from Jordan, has drawn significant attention. His family alleges that Mr. Perera fell victim to a job scam promising lucrative employment opportunities in Jordan. Following the failure of the job offer, he sought illegal entry into Israel in hopes of securing work there.
The Indian Embassy in Jordan is currently working to repatriate Mr. Perera’s remains, which are still in Jordan. The Ministry of External Affairs has indicated that the documentation process for repatriation will take one or two days to complete. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has verified Mr. Perera’s identity and stated that embassy officials have initiated arrangements for transporting the body back to India.
Mr. Perera’s brother-in-law, Mr. Edison Charlas, who was also involved in the incident, sustained injuries in the shooting and subsequently spent two weeks in detention before being repatriated. Both individuals, hailing from Kerala, were misled by an agent who promised them high-paying, blue-collar jobs in Jordan. Mr. Charlas paid a total of ₹2.7 lakh (approximately $3,300) in fees before their tragic journey commenced.
On February 10, Mr. Perera and Mr. Charlas attempted to cross into Israel along with a group. They were reportedly transported a significant distance and were instructed to proceed on foot. As they navigated the coastline under cover of darkness, Mr. Perera was fatally shot by Jordanian security forces. A letter from the Indian embassy attributes the shooting to a failure to heed warnings. However, Mr. Charlas contends that no warnings were given prior to the shooting, stating, “They just shot.”
Following the incident, Mr. Charlas was treated for his injuries and subsequently imprisoned for a period of 18 days, during which he contacted his wife, prompting her to reach out to the Indian embassy for assistance. He was eventually deported to India on February 28.
This tragic event underscores the increasing peril associated with employment scams that mislead individuals into illegal migration. It highlights the importance of vigilance in seeking overseas employment opportunities to prevent further victimization. The circumstances surrounding Mr. Perera’s death remain contentious, necessitating further inquiry into the actions of security forces at the Jordan-Israel border and the deceptive practices of employment agents.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
