Kollam (Kerala), May 11 - A court here Friday rejected the bail application plea of the two Italian security official arrested for shooting dead two Indian fishermen and extended their judicial custody till May 25.

The two - Latorre Massimillano and Salvatore Girone - were Friday brought before the Kollam chief judicial magistrate who passed the order.

The two, posted aboard cargo vessel Enrica Lexie, were arrested Feb 20 for shooting dead two Indian fishermen, Ajesh Binki, 25, and Gelastine, 45, after allegedly mistaking them for pirates. The incident occurred Feb 15, off Alappuzha.

The marines are lodged at the Thiruvananthapuram Central Prison. They are allowed a special room in the prison and last month their immediate family members were allowed to meet them.

Last week, Italian authorities reached an out-of-court settlement by paying Rs.10 million to the families of each of the killed fishermen and Rs.1.7 million to the boat owner J. Freddy for damage to his vessel.

The Italian cargo vessel Enrica Lexie was allowed to sail out from Kochi May 5.