New Delhi\Thiruvananthapuram:
There was no provocation on the part of the fishermen who were allegedly shot at and killed by the Italian security guards, a Coast Guard official said today. The Italian guards mistook the two Indian fishermen for pirates and shot them, he added.
Coast Guard Commander SPS Basra pointed out that the Italian ship did not follow established practices before shooting at the fishermen.
"Firing on unarmed fishermen was not right. The guards (Italian) will be arrested soon," he said. "Our waters are not piracy waters, they are fishing waters. I haven't witnessed a single case of piracy in Indian waters for a long period," he added.
In what has taken the shape of a diplomatic row between India and Italy, a case has been registered in Kollam against the security guards.
A team lead by the Kollam Police Commissioner, Sam Christy Daniel has entered the ship, which is anchored off the Kochi coast. He indicated that the Italian crew involved in the shooting might be taken into custody today.
"The ship will arrive in the port in the morning and then we will take action," He told NDTV. He added that it's his 'intention' to make arrests in the case.
The two fishermen were allegedly shot dead by the security guards of Italian cargo vessel Enrica Lexie at about 4.30 pm on Wednesday about 22 nautical miles or 120 kilometers off the Indian coast as they were mistaken for pirates.
The External Affairs Ministry on Thursday had summoned Italian envoy Giacomo Sanfelice di Montefor and lodged a strong protest over the incident. He was asked to ensure that the ship's captain cooperates with the police.
Sources in the Indian Navy say that the Italian vessel had violated established anti-piracy norms. Italy maintains that the ship was attacked and the firing was an act of self-defence. "The Italian Navy followed the international protocol as it was approached by a vessel which did not stop when flash lights were sent," the envoy said. Mr Montefort also demanded for the release of the Italian crew onboard the ship.
Italy contends that there is no case for action against the ship as the incident happened outside India's territorial waters which extend to about 66 kilometers.
The Indian Coast Guard, though, says that it is well within its rights to take action as the incident occurred within the country's Special Economic Zone which extends to a little beyond a thousand kilometers.
The boat in which the two were shot dead had left for fishing a week ago from Kollam. Freddy, its owner who was present when the incident took place said there were 11 people on board.