Killing of fishermen s a terrorist act: Kerala HC

KOCHI: Kerala High court observed on Friday that the killing of two fishermen by the Italian naval guards was a terrorist act because they fired on unarmed man. The observation was made by Justice CS Gopinath while hearing the case arguments on a petition by the owners of the Italian vessel Enrica Lexie.

The ship has been detained when two fishermen Jelestine and Ajesh Binki were shot dead on February 15 by two Italian naval guards. The court said, “As far as the victims are concerned, it is a terrorist act. Without any warning, the two were shot dead, they were unarmed”.

The director general of shipping informed that there is no need to hold the vessel since all the evidences were taken from it. He said that ship can be released on condition that the owner would present the master crew and security guards of the ship before any competent authority or courts in India in connection with any further investigation, if needed.

So far it has been found in the probe that firing was unprovoked.The results of forensic examination of weapons seized is also awaited.