Thiruvananthapuram:
The families of the two fishermen, allegedly killed by Italian Marines, have withdrawn their cases demanding compensation for the tragedy. The Kerala High Court allowed the family members to withdraw the affidavits and submissions made by them against Italy's plea to quash the FIR registered against the two marines.
Justice P S Gopinathan allowed a petition filed by counsel for the families of the deceased fishermen, stating they are not going ahead with their pleadings and submissions in view of the compensation of Rs one crore each arrived at with Italian authorities.
Sources said, the Italian authorities would hand over the compensation to the families later in the day. The Marines, however, will continue to stand trial on the criminal charges against them.
The legal heirs had impleaded themselves in the original petition filed by Italian Consul General Giampaolo Cutillio and the two marines Latore Massimilliano and Salvatore Girone challenging the murder charges against them.
The two fishermen were killed when the Marines allegedly fired at their boat off Kollam coast, mistaking them as pirates. They were arrested on February 19 and remanded in the central prison at Thiruvananthapuram.