Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 18 (PTI) Charging the Centre and Kerala government with dragging their feet on the killing incident of two fishermen, CPI-M today demanded immediate seizure of the Italian ship and arrest of the crew responsible for the incident. "Kerala police and the Central authorities have failed to act promptly in the case even three days after the incident," a statement issued by CPI(M) state secretariat said. The contention of the Italian embassy that gun shots were fired at the fishing boat mistaking it to be a pirate vessel was not at all acceptable as the crew of 'Enrica Lexie' did not follow the procedures expected of them in such circumstances, it said. Also, it had become amply clear that the boat, onboard which 11 fishermen set out to sea from Neendakara fishing harbour in Kerala, did not have anything other than fishing implement. So, there was no justifiable reason for the armed guards of the ship to fire at the fishing boat without any provocation, it said. The party also wanted the authorities concerned to launch not only effective legal proceeding against the ship crew, but also take steps to facilitate due compensation to the families of the victims.
