Naval guards arrest: Italy govt to move Kerala HC

KOCHI: The Italian government through its Embassy in Delhi will move the Kerala High Court over the arrest of two of their naval guards after they were charged with killing of two Indian fi shermen off the Kerala coast. As per reports on Tuesday, a senior Supreme Court lawyer has consented to provide counsel to the Italians. The Italian government wants quashing of the FIR against its naval personnel, who they stress were acting to prevent piracy – they want them to be tried under UN laws. Two naval guards of the Italian ship Enirca Lexie were produced before a local magistrate in Kollam yesterday who sent them to judicial custody till March 5 Latore Massimiliano and Salvatore Girone have been charged with murder under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code. The deceased - Valentine Jalastine and Ajeesh Binki – last week set out to sea in a boat along with nine fellow-fi shermen from Neendakara fi shing harbour. They were allegedly killed by the marines of the ship who fi red at their boat on February 15. But the accused claim that they mistook the deceased as pirates and shot them when they came close to the shipping vessel. Meanwhile, talks are on at the highest level over the issue. Italy has said the two marines have immunity from Indian law as the merchant vessel was fl ying with an Italian fl ag in international waters as it sailed from Singapore to Egypt when the fi ring incident occurred last Wednesday. Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi said there were “considerable differences” with India over the killing of the fi shermen. However, India has maintained that the accused must face justice in local courts.