Thaindian News

Pune, Jan 2 (IANS) British police officers Monday evening visited the grief-stricken family of 23-year-old Indian student Anuj Bidve, who was shot dead in Manchester a day after Christmas, his family said.

Manchester Police Chief Superintendent Russ Jackson and another officer who is currently corresponding with the family, are in Pune to meet Bidve’s family.

They apprised the bereaved family about the status of investigation.

Bidve was shot in the head from close range in the early hours of Dec 26. The gunman is suspected to be a white man in his 20s. Police are treating the killing as a “hate crime” which may have been racially motivated.

“We are still not entirely aware about the status of the investigation and also the day when Anuj’s body will handed over to us,” Anuj’s brother-in-law, Rakesh Sonawane told reporters.

However, Sonawane and Anuj’s parents Subhash and Yogini are likely to fly to Britain in day or two to claim his body.

A 50,000-pound reward has been offered by police to help catch the killer.

Bidve was a postgraduate student in micro-electronics at Lancaster University.

While three people aged 19, 20, and 16 and two 17-year-olds were arrested in connection with the case Sunday, 20-year-old Kiaran Stapleton, from Ordsall (Greater Manchester) was Monday charged with the murder.