Italian marines violated norms

Nobody informed the master of the ship before opening fire, the probe team was told.

Kochi:  The master of the Enrica Lexie, the ship involved in the killing of two Indian fishermen last year, deposed before the National Investigation Agency (NIA) that the two Italian marines had violated the norms while firing at the Indian fishermen.

Umberto Vittelli told the probe team that he was not informed by the security guards before they started firing.

At a time when Italy is showing reluctance to send their four marines, who are witnesses in the case, the deposition by the master could prove to be crucial.

Appearing before the NIA, Vittelli recounted the horrifying events that unfolded on that day.

James Mandley Samson, who was the Chief Officer of the ship, Sahil Gupta, who was the Second Officer, Fulbaria Narendra Kumar Naran, who was the able-bodied seaman, and former ordinary seaman Kantamuch Tirumal Rao also deposed before the NIA along with Vittelli.

Counsel for Enrica Lexie V J Mathew said that the crew members, including the master, deposed after a notice was issued to them by the NIA.

The crew members also backed the statement of the master. Vittelli deposed that at the time of incident he was sitting before a computer table. He admitted that he had heard the shouting of Navy guards and had rushed to the control panel.

When the incident took place, he immediately set the alarm into motion as well as the flash lights and horns as per the rules.

“I collected information from everybody regarding the incident which happened on February 15 last year,” Vittelli stated.

He submitted that at the time of firing, the two marines - Chief master sergeant Massimiliano Latorre and sergeant Salvatore Girone, first and second accused in the case - were present at the star board side of the ship.

According to Vittelli, before the firing took place, no one intimated him that security guards were going to fire.

Normally, the guards carry weapons. And they will alert the bridge whenever any fighting boat or any other vessel comes close to the ship.

Source: New Indian Express