• Source:JND
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Thiruvananthapuram: Senior BJP leader V Muraleedharan on Tuesday sought the intervention of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to facilitate the repatriation of the mortal remains of a Kerala man who was shot dead by Jordanian security forces at the Israel-Jordan border last month. Muraleedharan, who is also a former Minister of State for External Affairs, visited the family of the deceased, Ani Thomas Gabriel, in Thumba, near here. "To expedite the procedures, Muraleedharan requested Jaishankar to take the necessary action," a statement from the BJP leader's office said.

Muraleedharan made the request following his visit to Gabriel's residence, it added. The former union minister also held discussions with the Thumba parish vicar, Father Shajan Jose, it further said. Gabriel's family had said on Sunday 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 survived and has since returned home with injuries, according to family sources.

According to reports, Gabriel and Edison were part of a four-member group attempting to cross the border from Jordan into Israel with the help of an agent. All four had arrived in Jordan on a three-month visit visa. The Jordanian army intercepted them at the border, but as they attempted to escape, the soldiers opened fire.

Gabriel was reportedly shot in the head, while Edison sustained a leg injury and was taken to a Jordanian army hospital. After receiving treatment, he was repatriated to India.

Politics on

Senior BJP leader Prakash Javdekar criticised the Kerala Government on the issue accusing it of being unable to providing jobs for the youth. "Yet another Kerala youth was shot dead by Jordanian army while sneaking into Israel. This is just not a Visa fraud, it is a complete failure of LDF and UDF in creating jobs. Kerala youth do not find jobs in Kerala. They have to either go to other states or countries," he alleged in a post on X.