Italian marines case: Death clause dropped, Kerala fishermen protest

Thiruvananthapuram: The Independent Fish Workers Federation staged a protest in front of the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram against the Home Ministry dropping death clause against the Italian marines who had shot dead two Indian fishermen.

They burnt the effigy of Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and even shouted slogans against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

National Fish Workers Forum Secretary T Peter said the government has cheated the fishermen community. He added that death penalty should be given to those marines who shot two unarmed fishermen without any provocation.

The Home Ministry on Friday took a U-turn on its stance against Italian marines and dropped them of death penalty.