Kochi: Two fishermen in a boat were killed
after security detail onboard a merchant vessel fired at them
off Alapuzha coast this evening, suspecting them to be
pirates, police said.
The fishermen from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu had put out
to sea this morning from Neendakara in Kollam district.
A naval press release said personnel onboard 'Enrica
Lexie' fired on the fishermen mistaking them for pirates and
that the vessel informed authorities about the incident.
The Coast Guard then launched two ships 'Sumar' and
'Lakshmi Bai' and an aircraft to trace the ship, located it
and asked it to anchor off Kochi for a detailed investigation.
INS Kabra from the southern naval command was also put
out to sea for the operation.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, February 15, 2012, 23:18