This Article is From Mar 05, 2012

Italian food for marines in Kerala jail

Italian food for marines in Kerala jail
Kollam: The two Italian marines, whose arrest in Kerala is being fought by their country, are not safe in an Indian jail according to their lawyer. The marines are in prison in Kochi for shooting two local fishermen who they mistook at sea for Somalian pirates.

Their lawyer said in a court in Kochi today that they should be moved to an area of "safe custody." The court disagreed with that, and sent them to jail for 14 days. But the judge did sanction a request to make Italian food available to them.

Italy says India has no right to detain or try the marines. A murder case has been registered against them at home, Italian diplomats have told India, as they lobby for the marines to be handed over. The Italian foreign minister visited Delhi and Kochi last week, but was told by Indian authorities that the marines have to stand trial in India.

Italy says the marines were doing their job; their country's laws require merchant vessels to have armed guards on board; the marines allegedly fired warning shots at the fishermen whose behaviour was "aggressive." India refutes this version of events and says the marines opened fire without provocation.
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