The State police have confirmed the death of Keralite in a firing by the Jordan army in February end.
They identified the deceased as Gabriel Periera, a resident of Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, within the Thumpa police station limits of Thiruvananthapuram. Mr Periera’s neighbour and travel companion, Edison, was also injured in the firing.
According to police, Mr Periera was part of a four-member team on a visiting visa to Jordan.
Pradeep Kumar, Attache, Embassy of India, Jordan, confirmed Mr Periera’s death in a communique to the Union Ministry of External Affairs. Mr Periera’s family and the Kerala government have received a copy of the communication.
Mr Kumar wrote that the Jordanian security forces opened fire on the four-member group when they tried to enter Israel near the border of the Karak district.
According to the communique, the security forces warned the group to desist from entering Israel but were shot when they failed to obey. “One bullet hit Mr Thomas in his head”, the communique said.
Indian embassy officials visited the hospital where Mr Thomas’s mortal remains were kept for transport to India.
Published – March 02, 2025 01:28 pm IST