Courtesy-The Indian express
The Republic of Italy will prosecute two Italian Marines accused in the fishermen killing case as per the international arbitral award as said by the Supreme Court today. The incident had happened off the Kerala coast in 2012. For the disbursal of ₹10 crore compensation to the family of Indian fishermen killed by Italian Marines in 2012, the Supreme Court shall pass an order on 15th June.
Celestine and Ajeesh Pinku were shot dead in the seas off the Ambalapuzha coast in Kerala when they had gone deep sea fishing from Neendakara Fishing Harbour in 2012. The ship was identified as Enrica Lexie from which the fishermen were fired upon, reportedly in the international waters. According to the officials who claimed to have thought them to be pirates.
After the Italian crew flouted counter-piracy measures resulting in the ship’s armed guards, Italian military personnel thereby gunning down the two Indian fishermen, the Italian oil tanker was brought to Kochi. The two Italian marines named Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone were taken into custody by the Kerala police.
Mentioning that the Indian courts have no jurisdiction over the incident according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the principles of international law and conventions, the Italian government moves Kerala High Court to quash the FIR against the two marines on 22nd February 2012. To attend Christmas celebrations back home, the two Italian marines were released on bail after 105 days in custody after which they returned.
To quash the case against Italian Marines, the Supreme Court will pass an order for the same.