'Detain Italian ship till compensation is paid'

The family of one of the fishermen killed by firing from an Italian ship Tuesday filed a plea in the Kerala High Court seeking Rs.1 crore compensation and detaining the ship till the sum is paid.

The petition was filed by advocate Vincent and the Kollam Diocese to which Gelastine, one of the killed fisherman, belonged.

"We have claimed a compensation of Rs.1 crore because we feel that would be the amount required for his children's education and for future needs," Father Rajesh Martin, a relative of Gelastine, said.

"We have prayed that once the compensation amount is deposited in the court, only then should the vessel be allowed permission to leave Kochi," he told reporters.

Various fishermen's groups Tuesday held a protest march to the Kollam Collectorate and in the state capital demanding that strong action should be taken against the Italians who shot dead the fishermen.

C. Peter, who led the agitation in Thiruvananthapuram, told IANS that the captain of the vessel should also be arrested.

The fishermen had Monday threatened to ring the Italian vessel now berthed in Kochi. But they dropped the idea on the suggestion of police.

Gelastine, 45, and Ajesh Binki, 25, were allegedly mistaken for pirates and shot dead by Italian Marines of the Italian cargo vessel Feb 15, off Alappuzha.