FIR against Italian marines, strong, says Kerala CM

Chief minister Oommen Chandy today denied media reports that a weak first information report (FIR) was lodged by Kerala Police against Italian officials who shot dead two Indian fishermen last week.

"It is unfortunate that canards are spread like this by people who do not have a clue of what the case is about. Our case is very strong and nothing was left to chance when the case was registered. There is no need for an alternative FIR," Chandy told reporters in Thrissur.

The vessel, which had been berthed in the outer sea at Kochi, was brought to the dock at the Cochin Port Trust this morning and the Kerala Police's ballistic experts are expected to go on board.

Two Italian marines, Latorre Massimillano and Salvatore Girone, the security officials on board the vessel Enrica Lexie, have been arrested for the shooting of two Indian fishermen 15 February, allegedly mistaking them for pirates.

The police custody of the two officials was extended by another seven days by a court in Kollam yesterday.

The investigating team which will board the ship has a search warrant that will allow it to make a detailed investigation and take into possession the weapon used by the Italians.