Indian worker shot dead in Jordan trying to enter Israeli-occupied territories
An Indian man from the southern state of Kerala has been fatally shot by Jordanian security forces while allegedly trying to illegally enter the Israeli-occupied territories in search of employment opportunities.
The incident took place on February 10, five days after the victim, named Thomas Gabriel Perera, 47, from Thumba in the southern Indian state of Kerala, traveled in a group of four people to Jordan on tourist visas.
Another person named Edison, 43, who was Perera’s companion and from Thumba, also sustained injuries by gunshot but regained consciousness days later in a Jordanian medical facility and was deported to India on February 28 after facing legal proceedings.
Both Thomas and Edison, hailing from the fishermen community, were autorickshaw drivers and had allegedly been promised jobs in the Israeli occupied territories with a monthly salary of Rs350,000 (£3,180) by a fellow Indian working in Jordan.
According to family sources, they received a letter from the Indian Embassy in Amman, which said, “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 from Pradeek Kumar, attaché at the Embassy, said Indian officials will be visiting the hospital to verify the identity of Thomas.
The Embassy has 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. @MEAIndia
— India in Jordan (@IndiainJordan) March 2, 2025
The Indian Embassy confirmed on Sunday that it had learnt of the "sad demise of an Indian national in unfortunate circumstances.”
In March last year, an Indian man named Nibin Maxwell was killed during the Israeli aggression on Gaza. He had moved to the occupied territories in late 2023 in search of work and was among hundreds of Indian men taking up jobs in “dangerous” places.
Over the past year, the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has faced domestic criticism after it signed an agreement with Israel to allow 40,000 Indians to work in construction and nursing in the occupied territories, making up for the loss of workers amid the regime's war on Gaza.
The Indian government said at the time of signing that New Delhi was committed to making sure its migrant workers were protected.
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