Concerned over killing of two fishermen in firing by the security guards of an Italian ship, the government on Thursday said a case will be registered against the people responsible for the shooting and they will have to face Indian law.
“Case will be registered against the people responsible for the firing and the law will take its own course,” Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh told reporters.
He was replying to a question on what action will be taken on the killing of two fishermen in firing by security guards of an Italian ship off the Kerala coast, suspecting them to be pirates.
Official sources said the Kerala government as well as the Indian Coast Guard have informed the Home Ministry that the merchant vessel ‘Enrica Lexie’ was in Indian territorial waters when the incident took place and the security guards of the vessel had no authority to carry or use arms.
The Centre has taken the issue very seriously and is in regular touch with the Kerala government, they said.
The state government has conveyed to the Centre that after registration of the case, the people responsible for the firing will be arrested, they said. After their arrest, the foreigners may be allowed to have consular access, they said.
“They have to face Indian law,” a source said.
With regard to the merchant ship, the local authorities will see the relevant law and action will be taken accordingly.
Keywords: fishermen killing, Italy, India, Home Secretary
There is no need what so ever to get disturbed over the
incident.Pirates have been operating in the waters,instances of
taking away sailors as hostages are several.As the 'killing' took
place in our territory,the law should be allowed to take its
course.Even for an encounter killing by the Police,where a criminal
is shot dead, a regular FIR is called for as per the law. At best we
wish that the Italian guards aboard the ship could have done to the
then (fake fisher men)potential terrorists,of 26-11-2008,what they
to the innocent fishermen.
The same should be done for the naval boats of Srilanka who shoot and kill Tamilnadu fishermen.
Ever since the news came on the visual channels this afternooon, the
reported statememnts from the home secretary and the defence minsiter
give very little information on the action that is nbeing propsoped.
That the Italaina ship should say that it mistook the fishermen to be
Somalian opi9rateds show how they trtry to paint themselves as
ignroant mariners not knowing the latitudes and longitudes so
essential to navigation. Tht the ship has been trying to run away from
India n shores also show that it is not willing to resopond in
accordance with maritiem conventions. The coast guarfd is reported to
befrfurious. Further words are not necesary to deoict the quandary in
whcih Indian operative sre behaving on an impropriety concoimmitted by
an "Italian:" ship. The ship must be brought to Kochi even if
necessary with force and its captain arrested., Any actgion less than
this would anger the public. The issue is sufficiently sensitive for
our sovereignty and domestic politics too!
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