KOCHI: Dora Jelestine, wife of Valentine Jelestine who was gunned down by Italian marines on board the oil tanker ‘Enrica Lexie,’ will file a case under Admiralty Law against the Italian vessel in the Kerala High Court. The decision came at a meeting of various fishermen organisations, boat owners associations and the Kollam Diocese held in Kollam on Saturday. The procedures for the case will be undertaken under the supervision of the Quilon Social Service Society, an organisation under the Quilon Diocese. This is the first legal action undertaken by the victims’ family after the incident that took place on February 15. Apart from compensation, the petitioner will also demand the arrest of the captain and the ship owner. “The two Italian Navymen are being made scapegoats and the rest of the crew members will go scot-free. This cannot be allowed,” said the director of the Quilon Social Service Society, Fr Rajesh Martin. To protest against the gruesome incident, a massive rally will be taken out to the Kollam Collectorate with the participation of various fishermen organisations, trade unions and members of the Kollam Diocese. “We have a charter of demands. All measures must be taken to ensure that such an incident will not be repeated on our waters. Fishermen should be able to carry on with their livelihood without fear and due compensation must be paid to the families of the victims,” said Fr Steven Kayathil of the Quilon Social Service Society. Speaking to mediapersons on Friday Ernakulam IG K Padmakumar had said: “If the petitioner files a case under the Admiralty Law before the High Court, the ship can be released after the victims’ families are paid compensation. The Advocate-General can appear for the case.”
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