'Criteria for capital punishment not met'

India on Thursday rejected media reports that two Italian marines may face capital punishment there for the deaths of 2 Indian fishermen.

"The case does not meet the criteria for crimes punishable by death," government spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told ANSA at a press conference.

The Hindustan Times had reported that investigators from India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) have asked to judge Navy Marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone on the basis of the 'Sua Act', which punishes piracy by death.

The 2 are charged with opening fire on a fishing trawler and killing Ajesh Binki and Valentine aka Gelastine on February 15, 2012.

The shooting occurred while the marines were aboard a private vessel on an anti-piracy mission in international waters off the coast of Kerala in southern India, sparking a diplomatic row between the governments of India and Italy over conflicting opinions on jurisdiction and immunity.

Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid had previously assured Italy the marines would not face the death penalty.

That assurance was part of a deal to extradite the 2 from Italy in March.

Source: La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno, November 28, 2013