Two Italian marines killed two Indian fishermen at sea
The Centre has looked for the perspectives of the Law Ministry and the Additional Solicitor General, to take a final call on the alternatives recommended by the Italy to examine four of its marines as witnesses in association with the killing of two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast on 2012, the New Indian Express reports.
Declining to send the marines to NIA in India for examination, Italy had recommended three suggestions:
- video-conference,
- visit of investigating officer to Rome and submission of written answers or
- to record their statements.
The NIA had initiated the probe following a Supreme Court ruling in April to find out whether Italian marines Salvatore Girone and Massimilano Lattore, who were onboard Italian vessel Enrica Lexie, had killed the two Indian fishermen off the Alappuzha coast on February 15, 2012.
The Italian marines had claimed that they shoot warning shots in case the fishing boat was a pirate skiff. The four marines were also on board the ship at the time of the incident.
Akbaruddin pointed out that the Centre had recently made a formal request for the examination of the four marines, after the NIA had finished recording the statement of all other witnesses, including two Italian crew members.
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Background Information The sailors, Salvatore Girone and Massimilano Lattore, members of a military security team protecting a cargo ship, Enrica Lexie, had claimed they mistook the fishermen for pirates off the southern Indian state of Kerala in February 2012. The Supreme Court ruled that a special court should be set up to try the marines, lawyers who attended the hearing told reporters afterwards. There were no immediate details about how the court arrived at its long-awaited decision. The incident has caused a serious diplomatic dispute between Italy and India, which traditionally had good relations. |
