India likely to accept Italian plea for international arbitration

NEW DELHI: India is likely to agree to Italy's plea for an international arbitration over the alleged involvement of two Italian marines in the killing of Indian fishermen off Kerala coast three years ago.

India has no option but to accept Italy's move as it is one of the signatories to a UN convention in international arbitration, official sources said today.

Italy today made a fresh plea before the Supreme Court saying it has invoked international arbitration challenging India's jurisdiction to try two of its marines, accused of killing two Indian fishermen in 2012, as the court allowed one of them to remain in Italy for six more months on medical grounds.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) P S Narasimha told an apex court bench, headed by Justice A R Dave, that India had jurisdiction to try the Italian marines, Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, as the alleged offence had taken place in Indian waters.

The marines, who were onboard ship ' Enrica Lexie', are accused of killing two Indian fishermen off Kerala coast on February 15, 2012, mistaking them to be pirates.