By IANS,
Mumbai : A top Indian maritime authority Thursday ordered an inquiry into the gunning down of two Indian fishermen by Italian security personnel aboard a crude oil tanker off the south Indian coast.
According to the Directorate-General of Shipping, headquartered in Mumbai, the Principal Officer, Mercantile Maritime Department, Kochi, has been directed to conduct the preliminary inquiry into the incident and submit its report.
On Wednesday, at around 1700 hrs, armed guards aboard the Italian flagged ship, M.V. Enrica Lexie fired on an Indian fishing vessel, leading to two casualties.
The 58,418-tonne vessel, with a crew of 19 Indians, was on a voyage from Singapore to Egypt carrying a consignment of crude oil, the DGS said.
The unprovoked firing incident which resulted in the deaths of two Indian fishermen has sparked off a political furore in Kerala and led to diplomatic embarrassment in New Delhi.
Meanwhile, the DGS said the Indian Coast Guard has intercepted the Italian tanker and taken her to Kochi for further investigations.