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The Italian merchant ship Enrica Lexie which was involved in the killing of two fishermen on Wednesday night off Kerala coast, has been brought to the outer channel off Kochi Port by law enforcement agencies such as the Coast Guard, Kerala Police and the Navy, for further investigation.
Two fishermen killed
The armed security guards of the vessel had fired at the fishing boat, which was venturing into the sea off Kollam coast, suspecting the fishermen to be pirates.
There were 11 crew on the boat, out of which, two were hit in the firing.
The vessel has been brought here for further interrogation of the crew over the incident. A statement issued by the Navy said the fishermen were killed as a result of gun fire from the security detail of a passing merchant ship.
The ship is learnt to have fired at the fishermen mistaking them for pirates. Coast Guard District Headquarters No 4 had launched CGS Samar, CGS Lakshmibhai and an aircraft to pursue the ship.
Coast Guard aircraft has since located the ship and has asked the vessel to come to anchorage off Kochi for detailed investigation.
Interrogation begins
INS Kabra from Southern Naval Command has also been put to sea for the operation.
According to official sources, the law enforcement agencies started interrogating the crew since Thursday morning. Meanwhile, the State Government has announced a solatium of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of the deceased fishermen belonging to Colachal, but had settled in Kerala for the last several years.
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