NEW DELHI, Jan. 15 (UPI) -- Italy demanded the release of two Italian marines Wednesday detained by India under an anti-terrorism law that carries a possible death penalty.
In a petition to the Indian Supreme Court, Italy said the men should be released because of long delays in their trial, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.
The marines were guarding an Indian-flagged oil tanker when they opened fire on two Indian fishermen they allegedly mistook for pirates off the coast of Kerala in February 2012.
The petition claimed it was unclear if the investigation into the incident had been completed, that charges had yet to be filed and the trial had not begun.
It called the behavior of Indian investigators and prosecutors "an offense to the highest court" because they had disregarded the court's recommendations over the past year. The court had not recommended using the terrorism case in the case.
Italy said charges should be "immediately" presented that did not invoke the terrorism law. The petition proposed allowing the marines to return to Italy "to wait out the time for Indian trial."
The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing on the petition for Monday.
