Is India considering a deal with Italy under which it exchanges the two marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen for the 109 Indians who are presently in Italian jails?
An unnamed senior Home Ministry official has claimed that under the agreement signed between India and Italy last year, after the Indian Supreme Court has disposed of the case the two countries can carry out a prisoner swap as long as the marines are not awarded the death sentence.
“There are 109 Indian prisoners in Italian jails… India will negotiate for the transfer of these Indian prisoners if the Italian marines are to be sent to Italy to serve their sentence,” the official was quoted as saying in the Economic Times. However, India apparently has little clue about why 109 Indians are in jail.
The Italian Senate had approved a treaty to swap prisoners as early as October last year after the controversy over the two marines had erupted, but since the court proceedings are yet to be completed, no action could be taken on it.
The two marines, Salvatore Girone and Massimiliano Latorre, face charges of murder as the National Investigation Agency took over the investigations in the case from the Kerala police yesterday. In the charge sheet against them filed against them for shooting at an Indian fishing vessel on 15 February, 2012, the Italian marines have been charged with murder, attempt to murder and causing damage.
The custody of the two Italian marines has been the subject of a diplomatic dispute between the two nations after the duo were permitted to go home to cast their vote, only for the Italian government to then say that they would not return. Following a directive by the Supreme Court to prevent the Italian Ambassador from leaving the country, they were sent back but the Italian Foreign Minister resigned as protest against the decision.
The NIA is likely to reopen the investigations into the case and file its charge sheet in an NIA special court or any other special court to be set up by the government in consultation with the Supreme Court. However, given the fact that it isn’t even certain where the trial against the two marines is to be conducted.
