Italian Marines to produce before Kollam court

KOCHI: The Kerala Police will produce the two Italian Marines, suspected to be involved in the killings of two Indian fi shermen off Alappuzha coast on February 15 last, before Kollam Judicial First Class Magistrate by 1600 hours today. Kollam City Police Commissioner Sam Christy Daniel, who is coordinating the investigation, told media that ‘’the legal formality in this regard has almost completed and police recorded their arrest.’’ Since the case in this regard was registered at Neendakara, the suspected marines would have to be handed over the Neendkara police for further investigation after producing them before the court, he added. He also said that the police had taken statements from Marines Lathorre Massimiliano and Salvatore Girone, who were taken into police custody yesterday from Italian oil Tanker M V Enrica Lexie, which berthed at Kochi port. Putting an end to all uncertainty and overseas high drama, the Kerala police took the two suspected naval guards from the ship, after fi ve-hour-long marathon discussions with the Captain of the ship and the Italian authorities. Two fi shermen, 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 February 15 last, about 14nautical miles off Alappuzha. The delay in arresting those involved in the incident even after fi ve days, many political parties organized agitation alleging that the state government was protecting the Italian Ship.However, Kerala Chief Minister had made it clear that the government would take all steps to take action against those involved in the incident and take steps to get due compensation from the ship to the families of those killed in the incident. Though the Italian authorities and Captain stuck their stand that the incident took place on international waters and there was no question of responding to the interro gation to the Kerala police, the pressured mounted on them from various quarters, including the interference by Prime minister Manmohan Singh, forced them to hand over the two accused to police yesterday, putting an end to fi ve-day long procedures.