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The Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, has denied that back door channel diplomacy is at work to influence the case of two Italian marksmen involved in the shooting incident in the seas off the coast.
Mr Massimiliano Latorre and Mr Salvatore Girone were arrested by the State police on murder charges under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code.
NO INTERNVENTION
They had fired at a boat carrying fishermen off the coast of Kollam on Wednesday last, killing two of them on the spot.
Speaking to newspersons after a meeting of the State Cabinet here, the Chief Minister denied that the Catholic Church has intervened to plead the case of the detained Italians.
The matter must be treated as closed since the Church has sought to deny any move along the lines having been initiated from its side.
The Cabinet discussed the developments leading up to the day since and reviewed moves made by the State Government in the matter until now.
GOVT POSITION
Mr P.V. Anishkumar, Magistrate of the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-2 on Tuesday issued a warrant to search oil tanker Enrica Lexie and seize the gun used by the marines to open fire on the fishermen.
The State Government has taken a position that is consistent with the requirement of the law of land as applicable in the case, the Chief Minister said.
It has been arguing for a total and unconditional surrender of the two Italians now under judicial study at Kollam.
It has also found the defence being mounted by the Italian Government to be incoherent and has dismissed arguments in detainees' favour.
FULL CONFIDENCE
The State Government enjoys the fullest confidence of the Centre with respect to its well thought-out position with respect to the case, Mr Chandy added.
He recalled the fact that the Italian guards agreed to surrender after the External Affairs Minister, Mr S. M. Krishna, pressed for it.
The Chief Minister also announced that he would call a high-level meeting of the Coast Guard, the Navy, the police and the Department of Fisheries to review coastal security in the State.
This would be followed by a meeting involving representatives of various labour organisations and other stakeholders in the fisheries sector.
COASTAL SECURITY
The State Government is committed to do all it can to ensure the safety of the seagoing men and scale up overall security along and off the shore.
Meanwhile, sources in the State Government said that an Italian delegation led by the Consulate-General met with the Director-General of Police here and sought better facilities for the detained guards.
The delegation included two Navy officials holding the rank of Admiral, sources said. The State police chief is reported to have advised the Italians to place their requests with the High Court of Kerala.
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