'Only court can end impasse in Italian sailors case', says Krishna

Kochi, Apr 2 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna on Monday said only the country's judicial system was capable of resolving the impasse in killing of two Indian fishermen by Italian sailors.

Krishna said that the two Italian sailors were being tried under Indian laws and the court's decision, whatever it may be, would not hamper India's relationship with Italy.

"The court will ultimately decide as to how this impasse can be resolved. Let me underscore the point, this does not, in any manner, affect the cordial relationship that we have with Italy," he said.

Complimenting the Kerala Government's vigil in the case, Krishna said that the two Italian marines were rightly arrested.

"Two innocent fishermen fell to death for no fault of theirs and very rightly the state government took those two marines to custody. First they were in police custody and now they are in judicial custody," he added.

The Kerala High Court on Monday further stayed the release of Italian vessel Enrica Lexie till Tuesday even as a court in Kollam extended for 14 days the judicial remand of the ship's two marines, charged with gunning down two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast on February 15.

India has held in detention the two seamen, Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, trying them under Indian law since February 19.

The Italian mariners opened fire on a boat, which they mistook for pirate vessel, killing two Indian fishermen on February 15 off the coast of Kerala. (ANI)