Indian Tourist Shot Dead in Jordan While Attempting to Cross Border into Israel

One Kerala man, traveling on a tourist visa with three others, was allegedly gunned down in Jordan by security personnel when two of them were trying to cross the border illegally, said an Indian Embassy letter in Amman.

The victim has been named as Thomas Gabriel Perera, 47, a resident of Thumba in the vicinity of Thiruvananthapuram. Another person, Edison, 43, who was accompanying him, received gunshot wounds but returned to India.

Incident Took Place Near Jordan-Israel Border

As per the letter written by the Indian Embassy, the incident happened on February 10, five days after the team reached Jordan. The letter from the embassy read, “Thomas and another person were trying to cross the Jordan border at Karkak district illegally. The security forces tried to stop them, but they did not listen to the warning. The guards opened fire on them. One bullet hit Thomas in his head and he died on the spot. Later, his body was sent to a local hospital.”

The letter, also signed by Pradeek Kumar, Indian Embassy Attache, went on to state that Indian authorities would visit the hospital to verify Thomas’ identity before making arrangements to take his mortal remains to India. The letter also indicated to the family that some repatriation expenses would be their responsibility.

Kerala Man Returns With Bullet Injuries, Others Jailed in Jordan

Relatives of Thomas and Edison explained that the two were part of a group of four who traveled to Jordan on February 5 with the help of a Keralite who works in the nation. The Karak Governorate of Jordan, where the accident happened, is adjacent to the Dead Sea and is quite near Israel.

A relative of Thomas disclosed:

“We were told that they were shot by the forces while trying to move to Israel.” Their families did not know anything about their locations for a few days. Worried, they went to the Indian Embassy, which subsequently sent an email informing them of Thomas’ death on February 28. The family, however, only received the email on March 1.

Edison, who survived the attack, was arrested and treated for bullet wounds before being incarcerated in Jordan. He was finally deported to India. The two others in the group are still in a Jordanian jail.

Authorities Warn Illegal Migration

Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) CEO Ajith Kolassery pointed out that the incident was one of illegal migration.

Without a legal job visa, they tried to enter Israel. Poor people like them are caught and duped by such dubious agents. Illegal recruitment through tourist visas is the order of the day. We come to know about it only when people get into trouble,” he said.

The unfortunate accident underscores the dangers of unauthorized crossing of international borders and the importance of going through due legal procedures when applying for work or migration to foreign countries. The family of Thomas waits for the return of his earthly remains as diplomatic initiatives are ongoing.