New Delhi, February 24
Italy today sought ballistic examination of the weapons used in the killings of two Indian fishermen by Italian Navy personnel off the Kerala coast last week after New Delhi made it clear that the Indian law would prevail in dealing with the case.

Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Steffan de Mistura this evening met M Ganapathi, Secretary (West) in the External Affairs Ministry, and briefed him on his discussions with the authorities in Kerala.

“We want the truth. All of us, the Indian people, the Italian people and the truth will come out very much through the ballistic test,” Mistura said, striking a conciliatory note as he emerged from the South Block.

The Italian minister said the ballistic test would help discover whether there was ‘good faith mistake’ done by the judges who decided or felt that the Italian military were wrong or that there was a good faith mistake by the Italian military.

He said the two countries continue to have dialogue on the issue and expressed confidence that they would be able to find an amicable settlement. “We hope the incident will be behind us soon,” said the minister.

MEA spokesman Syed Akbaruddin, meanwhile, reiterated that that law of the land would take its course in the matter. “We have been consistently saying that we have a free, fair and independent judiciary and it is best if the law of the land takes its own course,” he said.

He indicated that the Italian side was satisfied with the progress in the case in Kerala.

Mistura was appreciative of the fact that the authorities were allowing Italian experts to be present during the ballistic test, saying it was a sign of transparency of the trial.

The issue is likely to figure prominently during talks between External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and his Italian counterpart Giulio Terzi, who arrives here on February 28.

Reports from Kochi said the Kerala Police, investigating the killing of the Indian fishermen, are expected to continue their probe by visiting the Italian vessel after two Italian defence officials arrive in the state on Saturday.

The vessel, which was berthed in the outer sea at Kochi, was brought to the dock at the Cochin Port Trust this morning. The investigating team has now got a search warrant to go on board the vessel to make a detailed investigation by taking into possession the weapon used by the Italian marines.