Police record statements of Italian ship’s crew

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.