Two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen off Kerala Coast last year, have returned to India after New Delhi insisted on it. Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone arrived in New Delhi this evening on the last day of the deadline set for their return by the Supreme Court.
The two marines had gone home last month to cast vote but did not return as their country refused to send them back. This led to a diplomatic standoff between the two countries with New Delhi insisting on their return as they had given an undertaking to the Supreme Court . A sudden volte face by Italy prompted the Supreme Court to restrain Italian Ambassador in New Delhi to leave the country till further orders.
With Italy reversing its decision of not sending back its two marines, the government today said it had assured that country that the accused in fishermen killing case will not face death penalty and will not be arrested if they returned by the deadline of today set by the Supreme Court.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was bitter after Italy reneged on its commitments earlier, welcomed the decision to send back the marines, saying the integrity and dignity of Indian judicial process has been upheld.
Hours after the announcement was made in Rome that the marines will return to face trial, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid told Parliament that Italy had sought clarifications on death penalty and other issues which were a matter of concern to that country.
The government was informed through a diplomatic approach that Italy would be willing to send the two marines back to India as per its commitment to face trial in the case of killing two fishermen in February last year, he said in identical statements in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
Khurshid said,India also allayed Italy's fears by saying that according to well-settled Indian jurisprudence, this case would not fall in the category of matters which attract the death penalty, that is to say the rarest of rare cases.
He expressed happiness that the matter was being brought to a satisfactory conclusion and the trial will now proceed as per the directions of the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court had allowed the marines to go to their home country for four weeks to cast votes in general elections. The four-week period expires today.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today welcomed Italy's decision to send back its two marines to face trial in India, saying the integrity and dignity of Indian judicial process has been upheld. He said this while talking to mediapersons in Parliament House complex hours after Italy reversed its decision of not sending back the marines who are facing trial for killing two Kerala fishermen in February last year.
Earlier, when Italy refused to send back the marines, Dr.Singh had warned that the move will have consequences for bilateral relations.
