Italian merchant ship Enrica Lexie seen off the Kochi coast. The security personnel of the ship killed two Indian fishermen, mistaken for pirates. PTI photo
A diplomatic row flared up between India and Italy on Thursday as the external affairs ministry summoned the country’s envoy and lodged a protest against the killing of two fishermen off the Kerala coast by an Italian ship’s crew.
The fishing boat, with 11 on board, came under fire
Wednesday night. Italy said its navy personnel on the cargo ship mistook the fishermen for pirates but fired warning shots first. But the Indian side maintained “there was no prior warning”.
The ministry said a case would be registered even as the Coast Guard and Kerala Police began questioning the crew.