Kochi: The Kerala government on Thursday informed the High Court it has the power to register a case against the two Italian marines, who allegedly shot dead two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast on February 15 and initiate investigation against them.
Advocate General KP Dandapani contended that the government could do so as per the Maritime Navigation Act on suppression of unlawful acts of violence.
The government also opposed the plea of the petitioners -- Italian Consular General and marines Latore Massimiliano and Salvatore Gironi Latore -- to quash the FIR against them. Justice P S Gopinathan, before whom the petition came up, posted the case for further hearing to Mar 19.
Government also objected to the Admirality suite filed by the owners of `Enrica Lexie`, praying that it be allowed to leave Kochi port, saying the vessel cannot be permitted to leave Kerala waters at this stage when investigation had not been completed. The marines had been arrested and charged with murder for allegedly gunning down the two fishermen off Kollam coast after suspecting them to be pirates.
PTI