February 22, 2012 / 15:46 IST
A five-member Italian delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Staffan De Mistura met Home Ministry officials in Delhi to secure the release of the two naval officers in custody for allegedly killing two fishermen. Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi, who himself will visit the country on February 29, has instructed De Mistura to continue, at the political level, the work already carried out by the delegation of Italian experts from the Foreign, Defence and Justice Ministries.
After the meeting, the Italian Deputy Foreign Minister said that the situation needed to be analysed. "This tragic incident needs to be analysed. A proper dialogue was needed to have a proper solution to this," De Mistura said.
He also said that it was important to find out the exact location of the incident. "We do sadly recognise that two Indian citizens died. The incident happened in international waters, but the exact location needs to be found out. We all want the truth to come out," De Mistura said.
However, India remained firm and said that law will follow its course. Minister of State, Ministry of External Affairs Preneet Kaur said, "Both sides have a different interpretation of the law, we will go by our law."
"We assured them that our judiciary is free and it will take a right decision," she added.
Italy wants the two accused to be investigated by Italian authorities in their country.
India has said that there is no diplomatic immunity for the accused and they must be tried in an Indian court. The Kerala Chief Minister reiterated that the case came under the state government's jurisdiction and that the government was very serious about the probe.
Meanwhile, the Italian Consul General met the Kerala DGP on Wednesday asking him to make proper arrangements in jail for the accused. The Italians reiterated the need for a joint investigation, but the Kerala police have said the court will decide.
Kerala Chief Minister Oommenn Chandy also denied reports of the Vatican approaching ministers asking not precipitate action.
Reports had said that working the Catholic channels through the Vatican to secure the release of the two guards accused of killing two Indian fishermen, according to reports. A report had claimed that Indian Cardinal George Alencherry had appealed to the Kerala government not to precipitate action.
But a spokesperson for the church in Kerala stated that Alencherry's words had been distorted by the media and he had not said anything that went against India's position on the issue.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was also formed on Tuesday to investigate the alleged killing of two fishermen by the two Italian Navy guards on board an Italian ship, Enrica Lexie, off the Kochi coast earlier this month. Kochi Police Commissioner Ajith Kumar will reportedly be heading the team.
The accused naval personnel also sought relief from the Kerala High Court.
A petition filed by the widow of one of the fishermen for compensation is also likely to come up in the High Court. She has demanded a compensation of one crore rupees and also detention of the Italian ship. A separate PIL seeking compensation for the families of the fishermen has been filed.
