An Italian delegation landed in New Delhi on Sunday and met senior officials of the ministry of external affairs (MEA) to discuss the tragic incident of killing of two Indian fishermen by the security-men on board the Italian merchant ship near the Kerala coast. Both sides accepted that no armed personnel can fire on unarmed fishermen.
In the absence of any legal treaties of bilateral nature to discuss such issues, both sides also decided to carry on with their own investigations into the incident.
The six-member Italian delegation comprised of members of its foreign, legal and defence ministries and two from the Italian mission in New Delhi, including ambassador Giacomo Sanfelice di Monteforte.
The Italian team members, four of whom flew to the capital this morning, met the Indian officials— Secretary (West) S Ganpathy, and the Resident Commissioner of Kerala in New Delhi U.K.S Chauhan.
“We had a fairly comprehensive discussion whereby we have explained to them the rationale of our position and the situation as it exists today,” MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told reporters.
“We have also explained to them that as good partners and as external affairs minister S.M. Krishna had requested on Saturday, we hope Italy will cooperate with us in ensuring that law of the land takes its course. We also requested them to fully cooperate with the Kerala police,” he said.
Mr Monteforte also said the meeting was successful.
India asserted that it enjoys extra-territorial jurisdiction in any crime or incident in such situations (involving killing of Indian citizens). Mr Krishna had also made it clear that the captain and crew of the Italian ship would have to surrender and cooperate in the investigation.
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India will seek extradition of Headley, others
Age Correspondent
New Delhi, Feb. 19
India will write to the USA seeking extradition of Pakistani-American David Coleman Headley and his accomplice Tahawwur Rana, wanted for their role in 26/11 attacks, and other terror cases.
Sources said it will be done in view of the recent special court order which directed the NIA to produce them before it on March 13. The request will soon be sent through the diplomatic channel, sources added. The order of the special court has been sent to the Union ministry of home affairs, which will be forwarded to legal and treaties department of ministry of external affairs, sources added.
Taking cognisance of the chargesheet filed by the NIA against Headley and eight others for allegedly carrying out several terror strikes in India, including the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, a Delhi Court on Saturday directed the Central probe agency to produce them before it on March 13.
“India will also send a reminder to authorities concerned in Pakistan for early extradition of Saeed and Lakhvi,” sources added. The court also allowed the NIA’s plea to issue a letter of request to the Kingdom of Morocco for judicial assistance in order to help it further investigate the role of Headley’s second wife, Faiza Outalha, in the 26/11 attacks. According to the NIA, Outalha had made visits to India in April 2007 and June July and August 2008.