Italian vessel owner approaches HC

KOCHI: Owner of the Italian vessel ‘Encrica Lexie’ on Friday approached the Kerala High Court seeking release of the ship detained here following the recent shooting to death of two Indian fi shermen by marines onboard the ship. According to petitioner, Dolfi n Tankers, the recovery of material objects has been affected by police and weapons were also seized. They were suffering huge losses due to the retention of the ship since the incident on February 15. Police have given a no objection certifi cate but on technical reasons the authorities were not permitting the ship to leave the Kochi Port, the petition said. Meanwhile, the petition by Italian Government and two accused marines seeking to quash the FIR in the case was heard by Justice P S Gopinathan, who later posted it to Thursday. State Advocate General K P Dandapani justifi ed the registration of crime and said the police action against the ship was maintainable. Two fi shermen from the state were killed when the Marines onboard the ship fi red at them off Kollam coast. A murder case has been registered against the two marines, who have since been arrested amid a diplomatic row between India and Italy. Italy maintains that the marines mistook the fi shing boat for a pirate vessel.