Fishermen shooting: Italians in custody

Kochi, Feb 19 (IBNS) The captain and two crew members of an Italian ship who had fired at Indian fishermen on Wednesday killing two of them off the Kerala coast recently were taken into custody on Sunday by the southern state's police.

They were charged with murder under Section 302 of Indian Penal Code and will be handed over to the Kollam Police for production in court.

On Wednesday, security officials of an Italian cargo vessel, Enrica Lexie, shot dead two Indian fishermen mistaking them as pirates in the high seas off Ambalapuzha in Kerala.

Even as a a diplomatic row continued between Italy and India over the custody of the errant marines of Enrica Lexie, Kochi Police had started questioning the crew members on board and later had asked them to surrender.

Later they were taken into custody.

On Saturday night, India´s External Affairs Minister S M Krishna has told his Italian counterpart Giulio Maria Terzi di Sant'Agata that "law should be allowed to take its course" and the concerned persons on the ship should cooperate.

While India wants the Italian marines who fired and killed the fishermen to submit them to the law of the country, Italy wants United Nations Convention laws to be applicable.

Krishna received a call from Giulio Maria Terzi di Sant'Agata at 2000 hrs Saturday.

"The telephonic conversation related to the incident on February 15, 2012 when two Indian fishermen were shot dead by personnel on board the Italian merchant vessel Enrica Lexie off the coast of Kerala in south-west India.

"Minister Terzi conveyed his deep regret at the loss of the the lives of the two fishermen and expressed his desire that both countries should work together to find a mutually acceptable procedure to establish the facts beyond any doubt and determine responsibilities," India´s external affairs ministry said.

"External Affairs Minister conveyed to the Italian Foreign Minister that it was unfortunate that innocent lives had been lost which could have been avoided had the naval personnel on board Enrica Lexie been careful and exercised restraint.

"He told his Italian counterpart that our information clearly indicated that the Indian fishermen were not carrying any arms or ammunition on board their vessel," the MEA said.

Indian fishing vessels do not carry these on board but only fishing nets and the fish they catch, Krishna communicated.

He said that the law should be allowed to take its course.

"S M Krishna informed the Italian Foreign Minister of his telephonic conversation with the Chief Minister of Kerala who conveyed the strong public opinion and agitation in the state of Kerala at the loss of the innocent lives and the need for an urgent resolution of this issue.

"Krishna emphasized that the personnel on board Enrica Lexie, particularly the Captain of the ship and the two concerned personnel involved in the shooting, should fully cooperate with the concerned Indian investigating authorities.

"He hoped that the issue will be satisfactorily resolved," the MEA said.

According to reports, the police conducted several rounds of meetings with the captain and crew of the Italian cargo vessel but the crew of the ship were reportedly not willing to surrender to the Indian officials and were awaiting for conformations from the Italian authorities.