SIT seizes weapons during search of Italian vessel

Mangaloretoday/ PTI

Kochi, Feb 25, 2012:A Special Investigation Team today seized several weapons from the Italian merchant vessel Encrica Lexie during a search to trace the firearms used by two marines, who allegedly shot dead two Indian fishermen. Italian crew to be tried under Indian law said  Defence Minister, A.K. Antony.

Kochi: Italian merchant ship Enrica Lexie, involved in the killing of two fishermen off the Kerala coast recently, anchored at Cochin Port Oil Berth in Kochi on Saturday evening. PTI Photo"We have seized many weapons and we will zero in the right weapons after the ballistic examination," police sources told PTI, as the search progressed in the presence of a 10-member Italian delegation, including two ballistic experts who were flown in from Rome this morning.

 

 

Italian Consul General, Giampaolo Cuttillo was also present during the search along with his country’s ballistic experts Major Flebus Luca and Major Fratini Paolo.

The SIT of Kerala police began the search around noon with forensic and finger print experts also on board the vessel berthed here.

The two arrested marines -- Latore Massimiliano and Salvatore Girone have been charged with murder in connection with the killing of the Indian fishermen on Feb 15.
Kochi Police commissioner, M R Ajith Kumar, heading the SIT, Kollam Police commissioner, Debesh Kumar Behera, along with a team of police officers were on board the tanker.

Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy said government would make all efforts to ensure that families of the two Indian fishermen get the maximum compensation.

The probe was in the right direction, he said adding the Central government was extending all cooperation to the State.

Since the State government had taken a strong stand the Italian government was cooperating with the probe, he told a meet-the-press programme of the Ernakulam press club here.

The incident had occurred in Indian waters and the Italian marines should be subjected to Indian laws, he said.

The Kerala High Court had yesterday ordered arrest and detention of the vessel at Kochi port oil terminal till Monday evening.