Kerala continues to grapple with flip side of migration

Kerala grapples with challenges of irregular migration as three Keralites killed in foreign territories in risky migration attempts.

In just one year, three Keralites were killed in foreign territory by armies while undertaking a risky migration. Kerala, which has a long history of organised migration, is now grappling with the challenges of irregular migration.

On Tuesday, the mortal remains of Thomas Gabriel, 47, who was allegedly shot dead by the Jordanian armed forces while trying to enter Israel, were laid to rest at a church cemetery at Thumba near here. His mortal remains were brought back earlier in the day.

In the previous instances, two Kerala youths were reportedly killed in the Russia-Ukraine war zone while working for the Russian forces.

Edison Charles, brother-in-law of Thomas Gabriel, who also sustained bullet injuries while trying to enter Israel, said there were around 62 people in the cell where he was lodged after he was caught by the Jordanian military personnel. Most of them from different Asian countries, and all of them were charged with the same offence. 

“I was invited to this risky migration by Gabriel himself, as the agent Biju Jelas, a native of Thumba who works in Jordan, was his classmate. Further, Gabriel had gone to Jordan along with an eight-member team earlier. However, he couldn’t land there and was deported after a mismatch in his documents. I joined him with the hope of a good job there. Around ₹5 lakh was taken as loan to meet the expenses,” said Mr. Charles, who was an autorickshaw driver here.

“Things took a turn for the worse when we were told to cross the border on foot. A bullet fired by the commandos hit my thigh and another hit Gabriel’s head. When I regained consciousness, I was in a cell where doctors visited on a regular basis. I had to be there for 18 days. They sent me back when my family sent a flight ticket,” he said.

Meanwhile, when contacted, Mr. Jelas, denied the charges and said they undertook the journey at their own risk.