Daily wage in Israel is Rs 15,000, Biju's eye was on wages when farmers' paid attention to farming

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Biju Kurian, a native of Iritty in Kannur, the farmer who fled in Israel, has not been found yet. Since his phone has been switched off, the investigation by the Israel Police Cyber Unit has not progressed much. The suspicion that he fled deliberately, has been strengthened. The 26-member team led by Dr B Ashok, principal secretary of the department of agriculture, who had gone to Israel to learn modern farming trends returned yesterday.

The farmers returned said that he fled with proper planning. People who accompanied Biju said that he had converted Rs 50,000 to Israel currency. It is suspected that this was part of his plan to stay in Israel. It is heard that some of his friends and relatives are in Israel. Biju had contacted them.

When the farmers studied about the farming trends in Israel, Biju’s eye was on the wages there. He had shared this information with other farmers. Biju, after knowing that Rs 15,000 was paid daily for cleaning work here, he spoke about it eagerly. He said that would get double amount for farming.

Biju's visa is valid till May 7. The farmers who were with him said that since the start of the journey, Biju was walking alone without cooperating with anyone. Sujith, a resident of Kanjikuzhy in Alappuzha, who was part of the group, told Kerala Kaumudi that Biju did not accompany them when they left the hotel in Herzliya on Friday night to go to another hotel to have food.

The team did not suspect anything as some had skipped dinner. When they returned after food, Biju was found missing. His luggage was also not there. They expected him to return the next day, but when he failed in that, a complaint was filed.