Kerala Man, Shot Dead At Israel Border, Was Victim Of Job Scam; Was Promised Rs 3,50,000 Salary
Indian man shot at Israel-Jordan border was victim of job scam
A man from Kerala was shot dead at the Jordan-Israel border by security forces while he was trying to cross into Israel illegally The deceased, 47-year-old Ani Thomas Gabriel Perera was reportedly a victim of a job scam.
As per reports, Perera and his brother-in-law Edison Charles had tried to enter Israel after arriving in Jordan on a visitor visa. Both were lured on the promise of a blue-collar job, reported BBC.
The agent had promised them a salary of Rs 3,50,000 a month, the report said. They paid Rs 2,10,000 to the agent before they left India and gave an additional Rs 52,289 ($600) after reaching Jordan.
However, as they arrived in Jordon, the agent said that there were no jobs available there and the duo should try for opportunities in the neighbouring country of Israel.
Believing the agent, the two tried to cross the border on February 10 when they were shot by Jordanian secuity forces. While Perera died on the sport, Charles survived and was repatriated to India after treatment.
Gabriel was a native of Thumba and his family said that they received an email from the Indian Embassy on March 1 confirming his death. The Indian Embassy in Jordan said it had learnt of the “sad demise of an Indian national in unfortunate circumstances.”
“The Embassy is in touch with the family of the deceased and is working closely with Jordanian authorities for transportation of mortal remains of the deceased,” it said in a post on X.
Family Recall Last Conversation
The devastated family of Gabriel said they did not check the email but it was a relative’s son in London who informed them about the case. “My relative’s son is in London and he is the one who called and informed me about this incident. We don’t know what happened exactly. He left from here on 5th (February). On 9th (February), my sister received a call, it was just for 2 minutes,” the woman said.
“He just asked to pray for him and cut the call. Then we received an email and we got to know that he died after he was shot in the head and his body is lying at a govt hospital there. He once worked in Kuwait for 5 years…he didn’t say anything to his wife and anyone, he left silently. He called once he reached there and then only he told where he went to” she added.
His wife said he did not tell her anything. She said the last time they talked, it was for two minutes. “Last time I received a call, he only spoke to me for 2 minutes. He just asked me to pray for him…”
Shashi Tharoor Asks Govt To Bring Back Remains
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has asked the government to bring back the remains of the man. “I have written to the MEA and the Embassy, requesting urgent action to expedite the return of the mortal remains to the family in Thiruvananthapuram,” Tharoor, who is also the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, said.
