India court bars Italian envoy from leaving country in marines’ dispute

      
India's top court on Thursday temporarily barred the Italian ambassador from leaving the country, the latest escalation in a dispute over the killing of two Indian fishermen by Italian marines.            

India had summoned the Italian ambassador this week to protest against Rome's decision not to send two marines charged with killing the fishermen while on anti-piracy duty back to India to face trial.         

Separately, an Indian politician who heads a regional party has filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the Italian government over the decision.          

The court ordered Ambassador Daniele Mancini not to leave India, and to respond to the petition by March 18, raising questions about whether this violated the envoy's diplomatic immunity.          

"The Chief Justice issued a notice to the Italian ambassador stating not to leave the country and has sought a reply from the ambassador by March 18," said Viplav Sharma, defence counsel for the Italian marines.          


REUTERS