The government asserted that the two Italian marines held for alleged killing of two Kerala fishermen, will have to undergo trial in India. Talking to reporters in New Delhi on Wednesday, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said that law of the land will apply in dealing with the marines – Latore Massimilianio and Salvatore Girone – who were arrested from the vessel Enrica Lexie for the February 19 shooting, off the Indian coast, in which two fishermen of Kerala died.

The Minister said, he had spoken to his Italian counterpart a couple of times in recent months and told him about the justifiable angry public opinion in India over the incident. He, however, insisted that it was not affecting the bilateral ties between the two countries. The marines are on bail since the 2nd of last month.