Kochi:
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) ofKerala Police began the search and ballistic examinationof weapons onboard oil tanker Enrica Lexie in the presence ofItalian experts who arrived here this morning from Rome.
Police will seize and seal the fire arms, suspected to havebeen used by the two arrested Italian naval guards LatoreMassimiliano and Salvatore Girone in the killing of two Indianfishermen off Kollam coast on February 15.
Kollam and Kochi Police Commissioners Debesh Kumar Beheraand M R Ajith Kumar, also the SIT chief, respectively alongwith a team of police officers and forensic expert boarded thetanker followed by a 10-member Italian delegation, includingtwo Italian ballistic experts Major Flebus Luca and MajorFratini Paolo, police sources said.
A Kollam court has permitted the police to carry out asearch of the weapons and their ballistic examination in thepresence of Italian experts.
Encrica Lexie, is presently berthed at the Kochi oilterminal to enable police to conduct the search.
Passing orders on a petition by Doramma, wife of Jelestine,one of the two fishermen killed, seeking compensation, KeralaHigh Court had yesterday ordered the arrest and detention ofthe vessel till Monday evening.