New Delhi, July 11, 2020: A family in Kerala has demanded 1 billion rupees as compensation from the Italian government days after a UN court said India is entitled to compensation in the case of Italian Mariners firing on a fishing village.

The family of Prijin A claims that he was only 14 when Italian marines fired at the Indian fishing boat eight years ago, killing two Indian fishermen, both Catholics.

Prijin committed suicide last year reportedly because of depression.

The family also says Prijin was traumatized after witnessing the February 15, 2012, firing by the marines from oil tanker “Enrica Lexie,” the family has said in a letter to the federal government.

The July 6 letter addressed to the Cabinet Secretary said the man had become “very disturbed and subsequently fell into depression” and killed himself in July 2019, the family said.

The family alleged that he was not provided the protection that a child of 14 should have been under international laws.

“There was neither medical assistance nor psychological counseling to the child who had witnessed the cold-blooded murder of Ajeesh Pink (also his friend and neighbor) and another fisherman, Jelastine,” the family wrote.

The amount 1 billion rupees was reasonable compensation for the “gross violation of natural justice and international human rights law done against Prijin,” said the letter.

According to the family, Prijin was also a victim of the firing and deserved compensation under the UN Convention on The Law of The Sea.

Prijin’s eight-member family includes his mother, 59, and sisters.

Prijin was part of the crew on the fishing vessel “St Antony,” reportedly hired by its owner Fredy to help fishermen and also assist in cooking.

After the shooting, he was rushed to the shore in another Indian fishing boat and he went home, his family said.

But after that day, he “seemed very disturbed without proper sleep,” used to wake up suddenly and also shout in his sleep.

Fredy, the boat owner, had visited Prijin several times and assured that he would get justice, the family claimed.

The move by the family has come nearly a week after the Hague-headquartered Permanent Court of Arbitration Tribunal ruled that India was entitled to compensation but the marines cannot be prosecuted in India as they had immunity.

The marines had appealed in the top court against the Kerala High Court’s decision that the state can prosecute them. Both are now back in Italy.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/boy-14-was-on-boat-when-2-shot-dead-by-italian-marines-says-his-family-2260665