Italian marines back in India for murder trial

• Italian marines arrive by military aircraft to IGI Airport
• Marines likely to first report to Chanakyapuri police station
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Two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen returned to Delhi on Friday, after Italy reversed a decision that they would not return which had triggered a diplomatic row.

 

Television reports say they were accompanied by Italian deputy foreign minister. The visiting dignitary is likely to meet External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid. 

 

India has conveyed to the Italian government that the two marines will not be tried under sections of the law that attract the death penalty, Khurshid told Parliament.

India welcomed Rome's U-turn as a success for diplomacy after being earlier accused of violating international laws on diplomatic immunity.

Earlier, the Italian government said the marines will return to India for murder trial.

 

"The Italian government requested and received written assurances from the Indian authorities regarding the treatment of the marines and the protection of their fundamental rights," the government said in a statement.

The marines -- Massimiliano Lattore and Salvatore Girone - were permitted by the Supreme Court on February 22 to go to Italy for four weeks for voting in election.

 

But when they failed to return, the apex court ruled Italy's ambassador was barred from leaving the country.

 

According to media reports, the Italian government said it had received assurances about the men's treatment and their human rights.

 

The case had sparked a diplomatic row between India and Italy. 

 

On 19 March, Congress President Sonia Gandhi asserted that no country will be allowed to take India for granted.

 

"The defiance of the Italian government on the question of the two marines and its betrayal of a commitment to our Supreme Court is outright unacceptable," Gandhi said, addressing a meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party here.

 

"No country can, should, or will be allowed to take India for granted. All means must be pursued to ensure that the commitment made by the Italian government to our Supreme Court is honoured," Gandhi said in four-page speech at the CPP.

 

Her remarks are significant as Congress was under attack from the Opposition, which alluding to Gandhi's Italian origin, has been targeting the government, questioning why accused having links with Italy escape Indian laws starting from the time of the Bofors scandal.

 

Sources in the party have maintained that Gandhi was keen that the government did not appear soft on the Italian marines issue.

 

After withholding posting of its Ambassador-designate Basant Kumar Gupta to Rome, government had said further steps will be taken after completion of the review of bilateral ties with Italy.

 

Taking a tough stand, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had accused Italy of violating "every rule of diplomatic discourse" and asked it to send back the two marines undergoing trial for killing Indian fishermen, failing which there will be consequences on bilateral ties.