India and Italy stuck to their stands as they tried to defuse the row over the killing of two Indian fishermen. Italy’s Deputy Foreign Minister Steffan de Mistura rushed to Delhi yesterday and met his Indian counterpart Preneet Kaur. India made it clear that the issue would be handled according to the law of the land.

Talking to reporters following the meeting, Mrs. Kaur said the very fair and free judiciary of India will take the right decision. Mistura held discussions with Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy last night on the issue. AIR correspondent reports that the Kerala High Court will today consider a petition moved by the arrested naval personnel and the Italian Consul General in Mumbai seeking to quash the FIR registered in connection with the killing.

Meanwhile, questioning the jurisdiction of Indian courts and police, Italian government and the two marines of the oil tanker moved the Kerala High Court seeking quashing of the FIR charging the naval guards with murder of the two fishermen in firing from the ship off the state coast on the 15th of this month.

In a related development, the court admitted a petition by the family of one of the deceased fishermen seeking one crore rupee compensation and directed the owners of the Italian vessel Enrica Lexie to furnish a bank guarantee of 25 lakh rupees to get the vessel released.