Police get custody of Italian marines for three days

Italian marines—Latorre Massimiliano and Salvatore Girone—who allegedly killed two Indian fishermen off the Kerala were today produced before Kollam judicial magistrate KP Joy, who put the duo in police custody for three days. The marines will also be in judicial custody for 11 days. Currently, the duo will be lodged in the CISF guest house. The police demanded an extension of custody as the two were slapped with murder charges while the Italian delegate wanted the judicial process to continue in Italy as per the Italian law. The magistrate reportedly rejected the Italian plea that the two be tried in Italy. The guards who were taken into custody on Sunday had to be taken to the magistrate’s residence as the courts were closed today due to the Shiva Ratri national holiday. With considerable differences between the two sides, the incident has snowballed into a full blown diplomatic row between India and Italy. “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,” Italian foreign minister Giulio Terzi said today. Members of different political parties like CPM, Congress and the BJP also went to the residence of the magistrate and protested against the Italian guards. The Kerala Swatantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation, president, T Peter said that the fishermen would hold protests in Kochi, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday, according to Manoramaonline. “At Kochi, our members will surround the Italian vessel, now berthed in the sea,” he told Manoramaonline. Italian lawyers say that Italy will invoke the UN law of the seas and ask for diplomatic immunity for the two arrested naval personnel. The Italian lawyers claim to have begun a separate probe into the incident in Italy and will ask Indian authorities to allow them to continue the probe in Italy itself, reported CNN-IBN. [caption id=“attachment_218986” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“AFP”]  [/caption] It was earlier reported that the two are likely to be held on charges of murder. Shipping Minister GK Vasan said that it is an ‘unpardonable crime’ and the guilty would be punished. “As I have already said it is condemnable. They (Kerala Police) are looking into it as a suspicious incident. Our waterfront is not infested by pirates. So it is an unpardonable crime to shoot innocent fishermen thinking they are pirates. There is no second opinion on whether to punish them for the act,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Chennai. Asked if the marines would be tried under Indian law, he said, “One thing I am very clear. Punishment should be given to the guilty. We have lost two precious lives of fishermen, which cannot be pardoned, which cannot be taken for granted.” But now it seems the probe will continue in Italy itself. Assuring that steps would be taken to prevent recurrence of such attacks, he said “The Mercantile Marine Department under the Shipping Ministry, along with Defence, Law and External Affairs ministries are investigating the issue and the guilty will be punished…Centre will give full protection to them.” The two fishermen, Ajesh Binki (25) and Jalastein (45) were killed on 15 February off Kollam coast near Kerala when armed guards of ‘Enrica Lexie’ fired at their boat. Preliminary assessment of marine authorities is that the guards might have fired at the boat, mistaking it for a pirate vessel. With inputs from PTI