The family of Thomas Gabriel Perera, an Indian man shot dead while illegally crossing into Israel, claims he was tricked by a fraudulent job offer.
Perera, 47, from Kerala, was killed by Jordanian security forces on February 10 while attempting to enter Israel. His brother-in-law, Edison Charlas, who was with him, survived with injuries but was later imprisoned for 18 days before being deported to India.
The two men, both auto-rickshaw drivers, were lured to Jordan by an agent who promised them well-paying blue-collar jobs. Charlas said he paid the agent ₹210,000 ($4,000) before leaving India and another $600 upon arrival in Jordan.
However, after reaching Amman in early February, they were told there were no jobs. The agent then advised them to cross into Israel illegally, claiming they could find work there.
On February 10, the two men, along with a group, were driven for hours toward the Israel-Jordan border.
Charlas described a long journey that started at 2 PM and ended around midnight near the coastline.
The group then walked several kilometers in the dark before security forces opened fire.
A letter from the Indian embassy in Jordan stated that “security forces tried to stop them, but they did not listen to warnings, leading to the shooting.” Perera was shot in the head and died instantly.
However, Charlas disputes this version, claiming:
“There was no warning. They just shot.”
Charlas was later hospitalized, detained for 18 days, and then deported to India on February 28.
Perera’s body remains in Jordan. India’s foreign ministry says efforts are underway to repatriate his remains within a few days. Indian MP Shashi Tharoor has confirmed that the process has begun.
The incident highlights a growing trend of Indians falling victim to job scams and risking illegal migration. Many are lured abroad on tourist visas, only to find themselves in dangerous situations.
Recent scams include:
Hundreds of Indians trafficked to Cambodia for scam centers.
Indian nationals tricked into fighting for Russia in the Ukraine war.
Kerala’s migration department Norka warns that people continue to ignore government advisories against fraudulent job offers.
“No country will accept illegal entry. We keep warning people, but they still fall for these scams,” said Ajith Kolassery, CEO of Norka.
This tragedy underscores the urgent need for stronger awareness campaigns and stricter actions against human traffickers.