in.reuters

NEW DELHI: The Indian authorities have detained an Italian merchant vessel off the southern Indian coast, after navy personnel on board the ship reportedly shot and killed two innocent Indian fishermen mistaken as pirates, said local media Thursday.

The merchant vessel, whose name was not revealed, opened fire at a group of Indian fishermen Wednesday off the Indian state of Kerala. But the Italian government said the merchant vessel had foiled a pirate attempt to hijack it.

Local TV footage showed fishing villagers mourned the two killed, carrying their bodies through a crowd of angry people.

A fisherman who witnessed the shooting said they were not even aware where the bullets were coming from when two of the fishermen were gunned down by machine guns.

About 36 Indian policemen and Coast Guards have boarded the merchant ship as the local authorities said they were not informed about any perceived threat of pirates beforehand.

However, the Italian embassy in New Delhi said the guards opened fire in self-defense after giving warning to the fishermen in accordance with international protocol.