Italian marine, charged with Indian fishermen murder, hospitalised

New Delhi: One of the two Italian marines detained in India on murder charges has been hospitalized here, according to Italian defence ministry.

Italian Defence Minister Roberta Pinotti will be flying to check on the condition of Massimiliano Latorre and to show support for his family members, who are with him in India, a report in Italian news agency ANSA said on Monday.

Doctors treating Latorre said they were "pleased with how he responded to the first treatment," according to a statement from the Italian defence ministry.

Latorre and Salvatore Girone are charged with murder of two Indian fishermen during an anti-piracy mission while guarding the privately owned Italian-flagged oil-tanker MT Enrica Lexie off the coast of Kerala on February 15, 2012.

They are living at the Italian embassy here. Rome has protested a long series of delays in the case, which has caused major diplomatic friction between the countries.