Union Minister for Home Sushilkumar Shinde on Wednesday said the two Italian marines involved in the killing of two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast could not be prosecuted under the stringent Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Maritime Navigation and Fixed Platforms on Continental Shelf Act (SUA).
Addressing a news conference here, he said SUA could be sanctioned only against terrorists.
The Ministry had obtained legal opinion and suggestions from experts. So the request of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) seeking sanction to prosecute the Italian marines under a law that provided only death penalty was not considered.
The accused, Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, who were on board the Italian vessel Enrica Lexie allegedly shot dead the two fishermen on February 15, 2012.
Mr. Shinde was here in connection with the inauguration of a campus of the Border Security Force (BSF) at Arekkarakunnu, near Kallachi, Nadapuram, about 70 km from the city. Union Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran was present.
Replying to a question on the role of the Centre in cooperating with the State government to curtail the threat from the Maoists, the Minister said the Naxalite movement had generally weakened throughout the country.
The violence associated with Left wing extremism had come down in the last two to three years.
Mr. Shinde said he had written to all State governments asking to take strict and prompt action regarding releasing wrongfully arrested persons belonging to the minority community.
To another question, Mr. Shinde said his statement on the alleged violence unleashed by the social media had been misrepresented. There was no question of any dictatorship, he clarified.
The Centre also sanctioned Rs.50 crore for the development of the BSF campus. He thanked the State government and the district administration for acquiring 55 acres for the purpose. The unit had been set up considering the strength of Keralites in the paramilitary forces.