Kerala, India — The family of Thomas Gabriel Perera, an Indian man shot dead while attempting to illegally cross into Israel, claims he was deceived by a job scam promising lucrative employment in the Middle East. Perera, 47, was killed by Jordanian security forces on 10 February near the border with Israel.
His brother-in-law, Edison Charlas, who was accompanying him, was injured in the incident, treated in a hospital, and subsequently deported to India after a brief imprisonment.
Perera and Charlas, both auto-rickshaw drivers from the southern Indian state of Kerala, were lured to Jordan by an agent’s promise of blue-collar jobs offering a salary of 350,000 rupees ($4,000) per month.
The two men left India on tourist visas, hoping to secure employment and a better future for their families. Charlas told the BBC that he had paid the agent 210,000 rupees upfront and an additional $600 upon reaching Jordan.
However, upon their arrival in Amman in early February, the pair were informed that the promised jobs did not exist. According to Charlas, the agent then suggested that they could find work in Israel instead and encouraged them to cross the border illegally.
Desperate and stranded without resources, the two men attempted the perilous journey, which ended in tragedy. Reports of Indian nationals falling victim to fraudulent employment schemes in the Middle East have become increasingly common.
Scammers often exploit the aspirations of low-income workers, luring them with promises of high-paying jobs that rarely materialize. Victims are left stranded, indebted, and in some cases, face life-threatening situations.
Perera’s death has sparked outrage and grief in his hometown, where his family is seeking justice and support from the Indian government.
“He was a victim of deception. We want those responsible to be held accountable,” a family member said. They have urged authorities to take stronger action against fraudulent job agents who continue to operate with impunity.
The incident has also raised concerns about the safety of Indian migrant workers in the Middle East and the growing trend of illegal crossings into Israel. Indian authorities have been urged to strengthen regulations and awareness campaigns to prevent such tragedies.
The Indian Embassy in Jordan has yet to release a statement regarding the incident. Meanwhile, Perera’s body has been repatriated to Kerala for final rites, and local police have initiated an inquiry into the recruitment agent’s activities.
As the investigation unfolds, advocacy groups have called for greater scrutiny of job recruitment practices in India and increased protection for migrant workers vulnerable to exploitation.