Two armed Italian marine personnel allegedly involved in Wednesday’s killing of two Indian fishermen off Kollam were arrested by the police Sunday afternoon and charged with murder, while an Italian delegation landed in New Delhi and held talks with the external affairs ministry on the incident.
India had sought Italy’s help to ensure that the “law of the land takes its course”. The Italian securitymen had mistaken the fishermen for pirates, and shot and killed them.
Latorre Massimiliano and Salvatore Girone, part of the six-member marine team on board Italian merchant ship Enrica Lexie, were brought to the shore nearly eight hours past the earlier deadline set by the police.
The ship’s captain, Umberto Vitiello, was also brought to shore for further investigations. He will not face any penal liability, but has civil liability as the firing was from a vessel under his command.
The three were taken to the Central Industrial Security Force guesthouse at Willingdon Island by the police, and will be taken to Kollam Monday. As Monday is a court holiday, the two marines will be presented at the chief judicial magistrate’s residence.
The police said a case of murder under Section 302 IPC was filed against the marines based on the complaint filed by the next of kin of the deceased at a local police station.