Merchant ships asked to report armed guards' presence on-board

New Delhi, Mar 19 (PTI) Following the killing of two fishermen by security guards of an Italian vessel off the country's southwestern coast along the state of Kerala, the Indian government has asked all merchant ships to report the presence of armed guards on-board to the Indian Navy or the country's coast guard. "All merchant ships have been advised by the Directorate General (Shipping) vide M.S notice, dated March 07, 2012 to report the presence of armed guards on-board to the Indian Navy/the Indian coast guard," Shipping Minister G K Vasan told Lok Sabha, lower house of India's Parliament, in a written reply. Two fishermen were killed in a firing by security guards of an Italian Vessel off Kerala coast on February 15. "The Indian coast guard diverted the ship to Kochi. The two Italian security guards have been taken into custody by the state police," Vasan said. PTI