BJP says govt may take action in Italian marines case

The BJP on Wednesday hinted that the Indian government may take action against the two Italian marines accused of murdering Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast almost four years ago after an Italian senator said they will not come back to face trial.

The BJP on Wednesday hinted that the Indian government may take action against the two Italian marines accused of murdering Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast almost four years ago after an Italian senator said they will not come back to face trial.

“With regards to anyone who leaves the country or seeks the indulgence of the court and thereby travels out, they are supposed to follow court orders. You cannot have anybody showing disrespect to the court. I am sure that if someone is showing disrespect to the court or not following court orders then the government is bound to raise such a thing,” Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Nalin Kohli told ANI.

Italian senator Nicola Latorre had said on Tuesday that one of two Italian marines will not be returning to India to face trial after being allowed home temporarily for medical treatment.

“Massimiliano Latorre will not return to India, and furthermore, the possibility of asking for Salvatore Girone’s return is being explored,” Latorre, president of the senate defence committee, had said.

Latorre, who suffered a stroke while in New Delhi in 2014, was granted a period of leave in Italy for medical treatment.

Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy on Wednesday had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to interfere and bring the culprits back to the country.

“Italian naval officers committed crime on Indian land and they are liable to obey Indian rules. The UDF government had taken a very strong stand on this point and at the time, the UPA government gave us their full support. My only request to the Indian government is to take strong steps to bring these culprits to India and to ensure that trial continues under the Indian law,” he said.