Kochi, Feb 21 (IANS): The weapon that two Italian ship officials used to shoot dead two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast is still on the vessel, say police who are expected to move court Tuesday for a search warrant.

A day after a magistrate's court sent the accused to three days police custody, Kochi City Police Commissioner M.R. Ajith Kumar said the investigation into the Feb 15 incident has been taken over by Kollam police.

"Till Feb 23, the investigation team will be free to take the two Italian security officials to places where they want to take forward the probe. Today they will be moving the Kollam court to get a search warrant which will help them search the ship," said Kumar.

"The weapon used for shooting the fishermen has been kept under lock and key by the ship officials in the ship itself. A search warrant would help investigators go to the ship with the two accused and also take possession of the weapon," said Kumar.

Two fishermen, Ajesh Binki, 25, and Gelastine, 45, were allegedly mistaken as pirates and shot dead by the crew of the Italian cargo vessel Feb 15, about 14 nautical miles off Alappuzha.

Latorre Massimillano and Salvatore Girone were picked up from the Italian vessel Enrica Lexie Sunday evening and arrested later on murder charges. They were brought back to Kochi Monday night.