Italian ship's crew faces murder charges in India

Feb 17, 2012, 12:03 GMT

New Delhi/Rome - Authorities in Italy and India launched separate inquiries Friday into the alleged killing this week of two Indian fishermen by Italian Navy personnel who apparently opened fire on them thinking they were pirates.

Police in India's southern state of Kerala have opened a murder inquiry against the crew of an Italian oil tanker from which the fatal shootings took place, media reported.

The criminal case rested on statements given by fishermen who had accompanied the victims and evidence collected from their boat, broadcaster CNN-IBN reported.

The Italian vessel, Enrica Lexie, was anchored off the port city of Kochi, and the Indian police and coastguard were questioning its captain and crew.

In Rome meanwhile, Italy's Defence Ministry and prosecutors launched separate inquiries on the incident.

The inquiries were 'mandatory' and 'routine,' a ministry spokesman told dpa.

'We are awaiting the results of the autopsy, also in order to be able to determine if the victims were killed by bullets from firearms used by the Italian Navy personnel,' the spokesman said.

Officers of the Italian navy on board the vessel allegedly fired at the fishermen late Wednesday, apparently mistaking them for pirates, local reports said.

The incident triggered a diplomatic row as Italy's description of events differed from India's.

Italy said the naval officers only fired warning shots after they were attacked in international waters by people on an Indian fishing vessel.

New Delhi said the Italian crew opened fire without provocation.

'What happened was against the law, against all norms, so the guilty will have to be punished,' Indian Defence Minister AK Antony said, according to IANS news agency.

The Italian ambassador in New Delhi, Giacomo Sanfelice di Montefort, was summoned by the foreign ministry on Thursday over the incident.

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