Italian FM makes a congratulatory call, raises marines issue

New Delhi, Jun 4: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today received a congratulatory call from her Italian counterpart Federica Mogherini who raised the case of the Italian marines awaiting trial for allegedly killing two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast in 2012.

During the 20-minute call, Mogherini expressed her concern over the fate of the marines -- Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone -- to which Swaraj said that the case was sub judice. The two leaders talked about a range of international and bilateral issues during the call which was broadly a congratulatory call, the Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry said.

The two marines onboard the ship Enrica Lexie allegedly killed the fishermen. The marines claim that they took the fishermen for pirates. Meanwhile, a special court has fixed July 31 for hearing the case of the marines after it was informed that the Supreme Court has ordered that the proceedings be deferred.

The apex court has sought response from the Centre on the petition filed by the two marines challenging the jurisdiction of the federal investigating agency -NIA- to prosecute and probe the case.

PTI