Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

World

India consults Italy over live bullet, hate mail

-

India's embassy in Rome has received hate mail and even a live bullet, an official said Friday, underlining fury in Italy over the prosecution of two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen.

India has consulted Italy over security at the embassy after recently receiving the mail as well as discovering the bullet in the embassy's mailbox, a foreign ministry official said in New Delhi.

"We are in diplomatic communication with Italy and hope that necessary safety and security is observed," foreign ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin told reporters during a weekly briefing in New Delhi.

Italy recalled its ambassador to India for consultations and summoned the Indian ambassador this week to express concerns over a delay in court proceedings against the two marines in New Delhi.

The moves again racheted up tensions between the two countries who were embroiled in a furious diplomatic row when the shootings took place in 2012.

In this photo taken on May 25  2012  Italian marines Latore Massimiliano (2L) and Salvatore Girone (...
In this photo taken on May 25, 2012, Italian marines Latore Massimiliano (2L) and Salvatore Girone (2R) are escorted by police outside a court in Kollam, India
, AFP/File

Akbaruddin said "we have a difference of opinion" over the case but discussions have been taking place to try to resolve the matter.

"We are communicating with them diplomatically. We have not yet made our views known public... but we have explained our views to Italy."

Italy this week described delays in prosecuting the marines as "unacceptable and indicate an Indian desire to procrastinate beyond all limits."

Indian legal experts have attributed the delay to uncertainty over which law to use to prosecute the men.

Italian authorities have lobbied the European Union and the United Nations on the case, saying the marines should be tried in Italy because it says the incident took place in international waters.

India denies this, saying it happened in Indian waters.

India’s embassy in Rome has received hate mail and even a live bullet, an official said Friday, underlining fury in Italy over the prosecution of two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen.

India has consulted Italy over security at the embassy after recently receiving the mail as well as discovering the bullet in the embassy’s mailbox, a foreign ministry official said in New Delhi.

“We are in diplomatic communication with Italy and hope that necessary safety and security is observed,” foreign ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin told reporters during a weekly briefing in New Delhi.

Italy recalled its ambassador to India for consultations and summoned the Indian ambassador this week to express concerns over a delay in court proceedings against the two marines in New Delhi.

The moves again racheted up tensions between the two countries who were embroiled in a furious diplomatic row when the shootings took place in 2012.

In this photo taken on May 25  2012  Italian marines Latore Massimiliano (2L) and Salvatore Girone (...

In this photo taken on May 25, 2012, Italian marines Latore Massimiliano (2L) and Salvatore Girone (2R) are escorted by police outside a court in Kollam, India
, AFP/File

Akbaruddin said “we have a difference of opinion” over the case but discussions have been taking place to try to resolve the matter.

“We are communicating with them diplomatically. We have not yet made our views known public… but we have explained our views to Italy.”

Italy this week described delays in prosecuting the marines as “unacceptable and indicate an Indian desire to procrastinate beyond all limits.”

Indian legal experts have attributed the delay to uncertainty over which law to use to prosecute the men.

Italian authorities have lobbied the European Union and the United Nations on the case, saying the marines should be tried in Italy because it says the incident took place in international waters.

India denies this, saying it happened in Indian waters.

AFP
Written By

With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

You may also like:

World

Immigration is a symptom of a much deeper worldwide problem.

Business

Saudi Aramco President & CEO Amin Nasser speaks during the CERAWeek oil summit in Houston, Texas - Copyright AFP Mark FelixPointing to the still...

Business

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal infers that some workers might be falling out of the job market altogether.

Business

Traveling in NY is already costly, but it just got worse: transit authorities have approved a controversial $15 toll, set to take effect in...