Kerala police to inspect Italian ship Saturday

The Kerala Police, investigating the killing of two Indian fishermen by Italian guards aboard the vessel Enrica Lexie, are expected to continue their probe by visiting the Italian vessel after two Italian defence officials arrive Saturday, said a police official.

Speaking to reporters here Friday, Kochi City Police Commissioner M.R. Ajith Kumar, who is heading the probe team said it is now possible to go on to the ship to continue the probe.

“Yesterday (Thursday), the Italian team had gotten permission from the court at Kollam which extended the police custody of the two Italian marines to get two of their officials to be with the Kerala police probe team. Two Italian defence officials are arriving here tomorrow from Italy. After they arrive, we will go on to the ship,” said Kumar.

The vessel, which was berthed in the outer sea at Kochi, was brought to the dock at the Cochin Port Trust Friday morning and ballistic experts of Kerala Police also had arrived but with the Italian team arriving only by Saturday, the inspection and probe would now take place only then.

The investigating team has now got a search warrant to go aboard the vessel to make a detailed investigation by taking into possession the weapon used by the Italian guards.

The two Italian marines, Latorre Massimillano and Salvatore Girone — the security officials on board the Enrica Lexie, have been arrested for shooting dead two Indian fishermen Feb 15 after mistaking them to be pirates.

They are currently lodged at the CISF guest house here.