Kerala police on Sunday took into custody two armed personnel of an Italian vessel from which gunshots were fired killing two fishermen off Alappuzha on Wednesday.
Latore Massimiliano and Salvatore Girone, who are part of the six-member security detail of the ship Enrica Lexie from Italian Navy, were brought to the shore this evening nearly eight hours past the deadline set by the police last night.
The two were brought to the shore from the vessel by senior police officers led by Ernakulam Range IGP K. Padma Kumar, Kochi Police commissioner, M. R. Ajith Kumar, Kollam SP Sam Christy Daniel and Assistant Commissioner (Special Branch) M.N. Ramesh. Italian Consul General also accompanied them.
They were taken to a CISF guest house at nearby Wellignton island for detailed interrogation, police sources said.
IGP Padmakumar told reporters that police examined documents in the ship and recorded the statement of the 20-odd crew and the Captain.
“As the matter was very sensitive, a detailed statement had to be made,” he said adding, at no point of time they (ship crew) created any obstacles and extended their cooperation.
Meanwhile, an Italian delegation, including officials from their Legal and Foreign ministries, arrived in New Delhi on Sunday and met Indian officials in connection with the killing of fishermen by the guards on board the ship.
The visiting team discussed the case with senior External Affairs Ministry officials during which the Indian side expressed hope that the Italians will cooperate in ensuring that law of the land takes its course.
MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said both the sides had a “fairly comprehensive” discussion.
“We had a fairly comprehensive discussion whereby we have explained to them the rationale of our position and the situation as it exists today. We have also explained to them that as good partners and as External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna had requested yesterday, we hope Italy will cooperate with us in ensuring law of the land takes its course. We also requested them to fully cooperate with Kerala Police,” he told reporters.
Official sources have said that the team will also go to Kochi for legal consultations in connection with the case.
The two fishermen, Ajesh Binki (25) and Jalastein (45) ,were killed off Kollam coast near Kerala when armed guards of the ship fired at their boat, suspecting it to be a vessel belonging to pirates.
Kerala Police officers Sunday morning began recording the statements of the crew of the Italian tanker 'Enrica Lexie', currently berthed here as part of the investigation into the killing of two Indian fishermen.
Inspector General of Police K. Padmakumar told reporters here that the investigating officers were recording the statements of the captain and other crew members.
'The investigating officers include Kollam Superintendent of Police Sam Christy Daniel. They have taken the statements from the captain and other crew members. They are fully cooperating with the process,' said Padmakumar.
An team of Kerala Police officers, as also ballistic and forensic experts, boarded the ship Sunday morning for investigations.
Top officials from the Italian Embassy were also aboard the ship and were in constant touch with authorities in Delhi.
Sources pointed out that the two security officers of the Italian ship who shot dead two Indian fishermen four days ago are likely to be taken into custody by the police.
Two fishermen, Ajesh Binki, 25, from Tamil Nadu and Gelastine, 45, from Kerala, were mistaken as pirates and shot dead by the crew of the Italian cargo vessel on Wednesday evening, about 14 nautical miles off Alappuzha.
The owners of the ship had late Saturday agreed to cooperate with the inquiry.
Two Italian Marines arrested by Kerala Police
Indian diplomacy ended four days of Italian defiance on Sunday, allowing the Kerala Police to arrest two members of Italian ship Enrica Lexie's security team who allegedly shot dead two fishermen off the state's coast on Wednesday.
Marines Latorre Massimiliano and Salvatore
Girone, part of the six-member security detail of the ship - from the Italian navy - were arrested nearly eight hours past the 8am deadline set by the police for the ship's authorities to turn them over.
"They will be handed over to the Kollam Police and produced before a magistrate," Ernakulam range inspector general of police K Padmakumar said.
Though the police had sought the custody of six people, they later zeroed in on the two for the killing of fishermen Ajesh Binki, 25, and Jalastein, 45.
The Italians had fired on their boat after mistaking them for pirates.
The breakthrough came after the Centre rejected arguments offered by a special Italian delegation in New Delhi to stave off the arrests.
The Indian side insisted that the ship's crew would have to face trial in India.
Kochi city police commissioner MR Ajith Kumar and his team reached the ship, berthed in Kochi port, in the morning and started quizzing the accused. Italian consular general Giampaolo Cutillo was present when the arrest took place.
A murder case was registered against them at Neendakara costal police station. The arrested will be questioned at Kochi police club and later produced before the magistrate. A team of eminent lawyers is camping in the city to assist Italian authorities.
Though the police had sought the custody of six crew members later they zeroed in on two, believed to be Italian navy commandos, who fired at unarmed fishermen.
“If needed we will add more after questioning the arrested,” a senior police office said when asked about this.
“It was so cumbersome and irritating. Since diplomatic strings were attached we showed utmost restraint and patience,” the officer said ridiculing the Italian authorities delay tactics showing flimsy reasons.
Throughout the talks Italian authorities insisted that India could not take action against them as the incident occurred in international water.
However its claim did not wash with the regional commander of Coast Guard (west), inspector general SPS Basra, who said the fishing boat was in Indian exclusive zone when it was fired upon.
Kerala director general of police Jacob Punoose also maintained that the firing took place in Indian waters and the country has every right to book them under Indian laws.
After the firing the Indian Navy and Cost Guard vessels had escorted the 58,000 tonne merchant vessel — carrying crude oil and cargo from Egypt to Singapore — to the Kochi Port. The ship’s crew includes 19 Indians.
The ball started rolling after the Prime Minister’s office sought a report from both home and external affairs ministries and Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy toughened his posture calling it a ‘cold-blooded murder.’
