Thomas Gabriel Perera was shot dead while illegally crossing into Israel from Jordan, allegedly a victim of a job scam; his family claims he was misled into believing he would find employment. His remains are being repatriated as the Indian Ministry of External Affairs intervenes. His brother-in-law, injured in the incident, disputes claims made by authorities regarding the shooting.
The family of Thomas Gabriel Perera, an Indian man shot dead while attempting to cross into Israel illegally from Jordan, asserts he fell victim to a job scam. Perera was killed by Jordanian security forces on February 10, and his remains are currently in Jordan as the Indian Ministry of External Affairs works on repatriation efforts.
The family contends that Perera was lured by false promises of lucrative job offers in Jordan. After the anticipated employment did not materialize, he sought to enter Israel, believing there would be better employment opportunities available, amidst a reported increase in similar scams targeting Indian migrants.
As of now, Perera’s body is being processed for repatriation. Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, indicated that documentation and logistics may take one or two days to finalize. Shashi Tharoor, an MP from Perera’s constituency, confirmed that identity verification has been completed by Indian embassy officials.
Perera made the journey to Jordan accompanied by his brother-in-law, Edison Charlas, who was also affected by the incident and was shot during their border crossing. Charlas underwent medical treatment and spent two weeks incarcerated before being repatriated. Both men were auto-rickshaw drivers from Kerala who were promised blue-collar jobs in Jordan.
Charlas explained that he paid the agent ₹2.1 lakh prior to leaving India and an additional $600 upon arrival in Jordan. However, they were informed that there were no available jobs and were advised by the agent to attempt crossing into Israel. On February 10, they embarked on a long journey to the Israel border, during which the tragic incident occurred.
Describing the events leading up to the shooting at the Jordan border, Charlas stated, “We were taken in a car … It was while walking in the dark that we were shot.” Furthermore, a letter from the Indian embassy outlined that security forces had attempted to stop the group but had met with resistance; they subsequently opened fire. However, Charlas disputes this account, recalling, “There was no such warning from the guards. They just shot.”
After the shooting, Charlas was hospitalized and later transferred through various government offices before he was imprisoned for 18 days. During this time, he managed to reach out to his wife, who in turn contacted Indian embassy officials. Charlas was ultimately deported to India on February 28.
The tragic case of Thomas Gabriel Perera highlights the victimization of individuals through employment scams, leading to illegal migration in search of work. While the Indian Ministry of External Affairs is engaged in efforts to repatriate Perera’s remains, the alarming increase in similar scams necessitates greater awareness and protective measures for potential migrants. This situation underscores the urgent need for scrutiny of employment agencies to prevent further exploitation.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
