Outraged India orders probe into sea killings

February 17, 2012

Fisherman


New Delhi, February 17: A diplomatic stalemate followed a day after shots fired from an Italian ship M?V?Enrica Lexie killed two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast, with an outraged New Delhi lodging a strong protest with that country's ambassador here on Thursday.

The protest was lodged even as Rome claimed that security personnel on board the vessel “fired to fend off pirates.” To make matters worse, the ship's captain refused to cooperate with investigations and come to the Kochi port for questioning by the Kerala police who have also not been allowed to board the ship to examine other sailors.

However, according to late ev­ening reports reaching the Ministry of External Affairs, Kerala police personnel boarded the vessel after the crew refused to disembark and registered a case of murder against the crew members responsible for opening fire on the innocent fishermen, Ajesh Binki, 25, and Jalastein, 45.

Subsequently, the Direct­o­r­ate-General of Shipping, headquartered in Mumbai, ordered an enquiry into the gunning down of the fishermen. The probe would be headed by the Principal Officer, Mercantile Maritime Department stationed in Kochi who has been di­rected to conduct the investi­g­ation and submit a report quickly.

Kollam Police Commissioner Devesh Kumar Behra told Deccan Herald that cases were filed based on the statements of colleagues of those killed on the ill-fated boat which was challenged by unprovoked gunfire 22 nautical miles off the Kerala coast on the Arabian sea.

The Italian ship was brought to Kochi coast by the Coast guard and the Indian Navy and was anchored off the Kochi coast. Earlier in the day, while the crew members stood their ground, the Kerala police also hardened its stand, requesting the Navy to ensure that the Enrica Lexie dropped anchor at Kochi harbour.

Italian Ambassador Giacomo Sanfelice di Monteforte met Secretary (West)?M?Ganapathi after being summoned to the Ministry of External Affaits at South Block.


After the meeting, Monteforte told reporters that the “facts (involving the circumstances leading to the killing of the fishermen) were yet to be clarified” as the Italian navy personnel onboard the ship followed international protocol as it was approached by a vessel which did not stop when flash lights were shone over it.”

The ambassador, however, said that “we are working in very close cooperation with Indian authorities. It is in any case a very sad incident. What I want to underline is that the Italian ship moved voluntarily into the Kochi port.”

Monteforte's assetion notwithstanding, Ganapathi made it clear to the Italian envoy that the fishermen had not opened fire on Enrica Lexie and the armed men on board the ship had no reason to mistake them as pirates.

The 58,418-tonne vessel, with a crew of 19 Indians, was on its way from Singapore to Egypt and had six armed Italian Navy personnel onboard. According to a statement issued by the Directorate General of Shipping in Mumbai, the armed men onboard the ship resorted to firing on an Indian fishing vessel at 5 pm on Wednesday.

According to reports the Ministry of External Affairs received from the Indian Coast Guard and Kerala Police, the fishing vessel had 11 fishermen.

In a statement, the Italian embassy in New Delhi alleged that the ship was attacked on international waters about 30 nautical miles off the south west coast of India on Wednesday. “Italian navy personnel onboard following international protocols after repeated warnings and, after ascertaining from binoculars that the pirates were armed, gradually fired some warning shots and the pirates withdrew,” it claimed.

“Later, the master of the Italian ship was contacted by the Indian Coast Guard and requested to direct towards the Kochi harbour to offer information on the pirate attack. The master had agreed and the ship was now in Kochi harbour,” it added.

“We are in touch with the Indian authorities and we shall work together to clarify all aspects of the incident,” the embassy statement said.



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News Network
May 19,2020

Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh), May 19: Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband has issued a fatwa asking Muslims to offer their Eid prayers this time at home, instead of congregating at mosques.

The directive comes amid a nationwide lockdown to slow down the spread of coronavirus.

Despite the relaxations announced in the lockdown, religious and other large gatherings are still banned.

The fatwa was issued in response to a query put to the seminary, its spokesman Ashraf Usmani said.

The fatwa said the Eid namaz can be offered in the same manner that the Friday prayers are now being read at home.

It said not holding the namaz in the usual manner is pardonable in circumstances such as these.

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coastaldigest.com news network
January 13,2020

Mangaluru, Jan 13: At least one lakh people from across the twin districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi are likely to attend the protest meet against CAA-NRC on January 15 at Adyar Kannur in Mangaluru.

Massive preparations are going on at the Shaha Garden in Adyar where the event is expected to start at 2:30 p.m.

Organisers have urged the people to make the event successful one by maintain peace and not giving an opportunity for trouble mongers to disrupt the event.

Addressing a press meet here today, K S Mohammad Masood, president of the Muslim Central Committee of DK and Udupi, said that senior activists and priests from different religions also will take part in the event.

The guest list includes acclaimed thinker and activist Harsh Mander, former IAS officer Kannan Gopinathan, retired Supreme Court judge Venkate Gopala Gowda.

Mangaluru Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha, Jnanaprakash Swamiji of Mysuru, Mangaluru Khazi Thwaka Ahmed Musliyar, Udupi Khazi Bekal Musliyar, Ullal Khazi Fazal Koyamma Thangal, JIH leader Mohammed Kunhi and PFI leader Mohammad Shaqib also will among dozens of guests.

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News Network
April 24,2020

Wayanad/Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 24: Amid the strict lockdown, a school teacher travelled from Thiruvananthapuram to Muthanga in Wayanad -- a distance of about 465 km -- on her way to neighbouring Karnataka en route to Delhi following which cases have been registered against her and an excise official.

The woman, Kamna Sharma, said to be working in Kendriya Vidyalaya, Pattom, undertook the journey on April 21 along with her two year-old daughter, police sources told news agency PTI.

An Excise Circle Inspector, Shahjahan, had provided his vehicle to travel allegedly on the instructions of Malappuram excise officer, in whose private vehicle, the woman and the child had reached Wayanad border from Thiruvananthapuram, the sources said.

The two were charged under the Kerala Epidemic Act and various sections of the IPC including sect 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection) and 271 (disobedience to quarantine rule).

Because of the lockdown even inter-district travel is not allowed by police and district administration, unless there is an extremely genuine reason.

A senior police official in Thiruvananthapuram said he does not remember issuing any such pass.

The woman may have "misused" government machinery as private vehicles would have been stopped somewhere during the long journey, he said.

She came to Kalpetta in Wayanad allegedly in an official car of the excise department.

Wayanad District police chief R Elango said that an FIR has been filed based on preliminary information and investigations have begun.

"We will check if she has followed procedures in obtaining a pass and if she made any false claim to get the pass."

As per preliminary information the woman came in an excise official's car from Thamarassery (Kozhikode) to Muthunga(Wayanad), he said. Her mode of transport before that--from Thiruvananthapuram to Wayanad--will also be investigated, he said, adding they have no information if she has reached Delhi.

"We will track down her movement," he said Meanwhile, theWayanad district administration has intensified the lockdown protocol from Thursday to prevent people's movement within and from outside the district/state.

Interception at all the check posts on district an state borders of the district, bordering Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, will also be intensified. No one would be allowed to travel frequently to and fro the district under the pretext of official duty.

Wayanad collector Adhila Abdulla said officials from outside the district will no longer be allowed to commute daily.

"Elderly people above the age of 65 should confine to their homes unless it is extremely urgent or unavoidable. Cases will be registered against family members who allow elderly people to go out for buying medicines and other essentials," she said.

Senior citizens, who live alone, can call either the Fire (101) or Police (100) departments for any help and to get things they need, the collector said.

Whatever relaxations were in place have also been withdrawn with effect from Thursday, she added.

Wayanad and Thiruvananthapuram come under the "Orange B" zone where there are some relaxations.

However, Thiruvananthapuram city limits falls under the hotspot area.

Police said a case was also registered against a doctor and her husband who entered Kerala from Tamil Nadu border.

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