Fishermen were killed in Indian waters says Minister

Chennai: In the wake of the controversy over Additional Solicitor General Harin Raval’s submission in the Supreme Court on the Italian ship ‘Enrica Lexie’ shooting incident, Centre today said it might be his personal opinion, asserting that it happened in Indian waters. [caption id=“attachment_283967” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“The Italian marines are presently in judicial custody. PTI”]  [/caption]“Government is clear that the incident happened in Indian waters,” Shipping Minister G K Vasan told reporters here. “It might be his personal opinion,” Vasan said, responding to Harin Raval’s submission that Enrica Lexie was not within Indian territorial waters when the two marines aboard it had allegedly shot dead two Indian fishermen on 15 February. The ASG’s submission in the apex court had drawn sharp reactions in Kerala with the family of the victims, the Latin Catholic Church and fishery unions expressing shock and anguish over the matter. The two fishermen were killed when the marines, Latore Massimiliano and Salvatore Gironi, allegedly fired at their boat off Kollam coast. They were arrested on 19 February and charged with murder. The duo are presently in judicial custody. PTI