A tragic incident unfolded at the Jordan-Israel border when 47-year-old Thomas Gabriel Perera, a native of Thumba in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram district, was shot dead by Jordanian soldiers. He was attempting to cross into Israel illegally with three others.
This unfortunate event resulted from a visa fraud scheme. An unidentified agency had promised Perera and his companions a work visa for Israel. However, instead of legitimate work visas, they were given tourist visas for Jordan.
Perera and his relative, Edison (43), departed for Jordan on February 5. They remained in contact with their families until February 9. On February 10, they attempted to enter Israel through a mountainous valley but were spotted by Jordanian soldiers, who opened fire.
Perera was fatally shot, while Edison sustained a gunshot wound to his leg and received medical treatment. The other two members of the group were arrested and are currently in a Jordanian prison.
Perera’s family has requested assistance from Norka Roots to repatriate his body. Norka Roots CEO Ajith Kolassery stated, “This is not the first time people have fallen victim to visa fraud. Authorities must take strict action to prevent such scams and raise awareness.”
This incident highlights the growing issue of visa fraud, where unsuspecting individuals are deceived by fraudulent agencies and put in life-threatening situations. Authorities must take stringent measures to curb such scams and educate people about the risks involved.
