Italy has triggered a fresh controversy, with its Deputy Foreign Minister Staffan de Mistura contending that the two Marines accused of killing fishermen in India should be tried by an Italian court.
The BJP has disagreed with the demand and Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandyhas called for setting up a special court to try the two Marines in Kerala.
Speaking to TV journalist Karan Thapar, Mistura said the Marines were lured into Indian waters by the Kerala police.“We maintain our position and I would like to restate it, while respecting the Supreme Court in India, that in our position, military should be judged in our own country,” Mistura said.
The accused Marines — Massimiliano latorre and Salvatore Girone — returned to India in an Italian Air Force plane on Friday accompanied by Mistura.
Asked why one of the Marines had returned to Cochin, Mistura said the Captain was lured into returning by Kerala Police.
“I can tell you what I know, rather than confirming, because I hope the Indian side would discover that. Point number one is what you said is correct. He was there. Point number two he returned not inside the national waters because he was never in national waters. But I will quote instead, I think a senior official of the Kerala Police, who actually very proudly said — “We lured him in”.”
The two Italian Marines are being accommodated in the Italian Embassy building for now even as the Government of Italy stressed that they should enjoy good living conditions during their trial in India.
Meanwhile, the main Opposition party the BJP, has rejected the demand of the Italian Government of trying two of its Marines in Rome, saying the duo should be tried under Indian law.
“The Italians can say whatever they want. The facts don’t change. The Italians killed two Indians in Indian waters. They should be tried in India under Indian law,” BJP leader Balbir Punj said.
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has asked the Centre to set up the special court at Kollam district to conduct the trial of the two Italian Marines charged with the killing of two Indian fishermen.
Refuting Mistura’s claim, Minister for Home and Vigilance in Kerala, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said the Kerala Government can take cognizance of the offence since Indian jurisdiction expands to 12 nautical miles in the sea.
“According to us, this comes under Indian territory. The incident occurred within the territory of India. It is a contiguous area. The contiguous area can also be governed by Indian law,” he said.