Kerala government asks Centre to take stern action in Italian Marine case

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government on Wednesday said the Centre should take stern action to bring Italian Marine Massimiliano Latorre, who along with his colleague Salvatore Girone is accused of killing two fishermen off Kerala coast in 2012, to face trial in the country.

"State government does not agree to Italy's move not to send back Massimiliano Latorre to India. The Centre should take stern action to bring him to India to face trial," Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

"State will bring this matter before Prime Minister and seek his intervention, Chandy said, referring to media reports that Latorre will not return to India. It is the duty and responsibility of the country to defeat all efforts of the accused to escape the law of the land after killing two hapless fishermen," Chandy said.

The Chief Minister also said that earlier attempts of the accused to remain in Italy after going there was foiled due to stern intervention of the Centre at that time.

"Ambassador of Italy was summoned then and instructed to bring them back. They returned to face trial," he pointed out.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday extended the stay of Latorre in Italy till April 30 and asked the government to apprise it of the status of international arbitration proceedings in the case.

The marines, who were on board ship 'Enrica Lexie', are accused of killing two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast on February 15, 2012. The court, in August last year, had extended the stay of Latorre, who underwent a heart surgery in Italy, by another six months.

Latorre, who had suffered a brain stroke on August 31, 2014, was allowed by the apex court on September 12, 2014 to go to Italy for four months and after that extensions have been granted to him.

The complaint against the Italian marines was lodged by Freddy, owner of the fishing boat 'St Antony', in which the two Indian fishermen were killed when the marines opened fire on them allegedly due to misconception that they were pirates.

Girone, the other accused, is in the country and Italy has been seeking his return as well.