Two Italian marines, facing trial in India for allegedly killing two fishermen and recently granted permission by the Supreme Court to go home to vote in general election will not return to India, Italian government said tonight.
Massimiliano Lattore and Salvatore Girone, charged with homicide for killing two fishermen off the Kerala coast in February last year in an anti-piracy operation were permitted by the Apex Court to go to Italy for four weeks for voting in last month's election.
Last time they were allowed to go home for the Christmas holidays after which they returned back to India on the expiry of their leave.
However in a surprise development, the Italian Foreign Ministry accused Indian authorities of violating International rights by detaining the marines and said it was "open" to let an international arbitrator to assess the case, according to an official statement.
In New Delhi, Ministry of External affairs said that it has received a communication from Italy late tonight and it will "examine it carefully".
It did not, however say what the communication contained.
