Kochi, Feb 17 (PTI) Kerala Police today requested the master of the Italian oil tanker 'Enrica Lexie', from which gun shots were fired killing two Indian fishermen, to transfer the personnel involved in the incident to land for facilitating further investigation in the case. The ship authorities have also been requested to help the local police carry out investigation inside the vessel, Kochi Police Commissioner M R Ajit Kumar told PTI. A letter in this regard was sent through a special messenger to the vessel's Captain. The ship, berthed at Kochi oil terminal after being brought here early today, would be allowed to leave only after completion of all legal formalities, he said. "We have asked for two things. We have requested the master to facilitate the transfer of personnel involved in the incident to land and to provide all facilities to the police to complete the process of investigation inside the ship," he said. Of the 30 odd crew, six are highly trained Naval personnel. Italian Consul General Giam Paolo Cutillo met the Police commissioner today and assured him that his government would extend full cooperation to the investigation. The coastal police have registered a murder case against the crew of the vessel in connection with the killing of the two fishermen -- Valentine alias Jelestine (45) and Ajesh Binki (25) -- on Wednesday night off Kerala coast. Kerala Excise Minister K Babu told reporters that the state government would take steps to ensure that the next of kin of the two fishermen received maximum compensation. The minister assured that efforts would be made to increase the joint surveillance by Coast Guard and Marine police to instill confidence among the fisherfolk.
