New Delhi:
The killing of two Indian fishermen allegedly by two Italian marines last week has sparked a diplomatic row between both nations. While Italy contends that the two Naval guards should be let off, India insists that the duo's arrest is in line with domestic laws.
Here are the top ten facts of the case:- Two Italian marines, who allegedly shot dead two Indian fishermen off Kerala's coast on February 15, have been sent to police custody till February 23. They will then be remanded to judicial custody for the next 11 days till March 5.
- There were angry protests outside the magistrate's house in Kollam district with locals demanding death penalty for the two accused Italians. The two marines were produced at the magistrate's residence as Monday was a public holiday. The protests continued even as the marines were taken away by the police.
- Police had arrested Latore Massimiliano and Salvatore Girone on Sunday night after questioning them in Kochi. The two accused are part of the six-member security team of the oil tanker Merchant Vessel Enrica Lexie. A murder case has been registered against the two marines.
- Italian foreign minister Giulio Terzi on Monday warned of "considerable differences" with India over the alleged killing of the two Indian fishermen mistaken for pirates by the Italian soldiers. "There are currently considerable differences of a legal character. Up to now I have not seen the co-operation between India and Italy that would be desirable and would allow a quick resolution," Mr Terzi said.
- External Affairs Minister S M Krishna had publicly urged the Italians to cooperate in the ongoing investigations. "I have been in talks with the Italian foreign minister and the Kerala chief minister...the law of the land will have to take its own course, we have advised the Italians to cooperate with the Kerala law agencies to achieve an amicable solution. I am expecting the Italian foreign minister to come on the 28th," Mr Krishna had said.
- An Italian delegation met senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Sunday. Sources have told NDTV that the Italians tried hard for a concession, contending that the men held in custody were marines but India refused to budge from its stated stand.
- The death of the fishermen has snowballed into a major diplomatic stand-off between both nations. Italy contends that the incident happened in international waters and hence, a case could not be made against its crew by Indian authorities.
- India, on its part, insists that the firing occurred in the contiguous zone that is well within its jurisdiction. The Coast Guard says that it is well within its rights to take action as the incident occurred within the country's Special Economic Zone which extends to a little beyond a thousand kilometers.
- Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has termed the incident off the Kollam coast as "cold-blooded murder" and promised "strict legal action".
- Ajesh Binki, 25, from Tamil Nadu and Gelastine, 45, from Kerala, were mistaken for pirates and shot dead by the crew of an Italian ship on Wednesday evening about 14 nautical miles off Alappuzha.