Fishermen killing case: Italian marine suffers mild cerebral ischemia, Def Min visits

New Delhi: One of the two Italian marines detained in India on murder charges was hospitalised with a condition similar to a mild stroke even as the Italian Foreign minister said bringing back the marines remain a priority.

Meanwhile, Italian Defence Minister Roberta Pinotti also flew to check on the condition of Massimiliano Latorre and to show support for his family members, who are with him in India, a report in Italian news agency ANSA said.

Latorre has been responding well to treatment in the neurology department after he lost consciousness due to a mild cerebral ischemia, or restriction of blood supply, the doctors were quoted as saying by ANSA.

"As it has always been in these months, we follow the case of the two marine riflemen every day, with the aim of bringing them back to Italy, it is a priority for the government," Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini said.

"I feel close to Massimiliano Latorre and I wish with all my heart that he can get back as soon as possible," Mogherini said in a statement.

Latorre and Salvatore Girone are charged with murder of two Indian fishermen during an anti-piracy mission while guarding the privately owned Italian-flagged oil-tanker MT Enrica Lexie off the coast of Kerala on February 15, 2012. They are living at the Italian embassy here after being detained two-and-a-half-years ago.

Rome has protested a long series of delays in the case, which has caused major diplomatic friction between the countries.