NEW DELHI: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and BJP leader V Muraleedharan have appealed to the Ministry of External Affairs for assistance in the repatriation of the remains of a man from Kerala who was fatally shot at the Israel-Jordan border last month.
Tharoor reported that he had contacted the MEA and the Indian embassy “seeking urgent action to facilitate the return of the remains to the family in Thiruvananthapuram.” “This is a deeply unfortunate and tragic situation; Thomas Gabriel, from my constituency, was reportedly shot by Jordanian security forces at the border with Israel. We still lack detailed information about the circumstances, and it seems that unscrupulous agents may have misled him. The family wishes to have the body returned; I have written to the MEA and the Embassy, requesting immediate action to expedite this process,” he stated.
Furthermore, senior BJP leader Muraleedharan, in a statement, urged Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar to “accelerate the procedures.” “To expedite the processes, Muraleedharan requested Jaishankar to take the essential actions,” according to a statement from the BJP leader’s office.
Gabriel’s family disclosed that they received an email from the Indian Embassy on March 1, confirming his death. The incident reportedly occurred on February 10, when Jordanian soldiers opened fire at the border. Gabriel’s relative, Edison, was also shot but managed to survive and has since returned home with injuries, as per family sources.
Gabriel and Edison were part of a four-person group attempting to cross the Jordan-Israel border with assistance from an agent. The group had entered Jordan on a three-month visit visa. When intercepted by the Jordanian army at the border, they attempted to flee, prompting the soldiers to open fire. Gabriel sustained a gunshot wound to the head, while Edison suffered a leg injury and was taken to a Jordanian army hospital. After receiving treatment, he was brought back to India.
