Italy mulls international arbitration over two marines

Italy has requested Latorre and Girone be allowed to return home and the whole case be dropped.  Rome wants the marines to be tried in Italy, claiming the incident took place in international waters.

However, New Delhi says it has the right to try the Italians as the victims were Indians on board an Indian fishing boat.  A special court on March 31 has fixed July 31 for hearing the case of the two Italian marines.

The Supreme Court had sought response from the Centre on the petition filed by the two marines challenging the jurisdiction of National Investigation Agency (NIA) to prosecute and probe the case.

The marines had moved the apex court more than a month after the Indian Government had decided to withdraw their prosecution under the stringent anti-piracy SUA law that attracts death penalty as maximum punishment.  

The Centre on February 24 had told the apex court that the marines would not be prosecuted under the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against Safety of Maritime Navigation And Fixed Platforms on Continental Shelf Act (SUA).