London: Britain on Thursday promised "full
investigation" into the killing of Indian student Anuj Bidve,
whose distraught parents viewed his body for the first time at
a funeral parlour here, more than a week after the apparent
hate crime.
Subhash Bidve, father of 23-year-old Anuj, arrived in
London last evening along with wife Yogini and the victim`s
brother-in-law Rakesh Sonawane.
They will visit the site of the December 26 gruesome crime
in Salford tomorrow morning.
After their arrival here, they viewed the victim`s body
at a funeral parlour in London and met with Indian-origin
Labour MP Keith Vaz in Parliament.
Vaz, the Chairman of House of Commons Home Affairs
Parliamentary said he will "certainly ask for a full
investigation into the circumstances of the murder" once the
criminal proceedings are over.
"Many people have contacted me to express their
condolences and they are keen to set up a fund in memory of
Anuj," he said.
Vaz said the family mortgaged their house in Pune "to
raise 10,000 pounds college fee for Anuj".
"People want to help the family. Details of the fund is
being worked out," he said.
Fighting back tears, Subhash said: "Thank you to everyone
for the concern that everyone has about our son Anuj.
"It was really unfortunate that I lost my son, but I feel
myself as a father that this should not happen again because a
lot of Indian students come here for their education and they
go back to their own countries."
Vaz said the family is also keen that Anuj`s Facebook
which has been closed is restored. The family will visit site
of crime in Salford and the Lancaster University tomorrow
where Anuj was a postgraduate student of Microelectronics.
Vaz said he wanted to send a message that the UK is the
best place to study as over the last 5 years, more than
180,000 Indian students came to Britain for higher education.
The Bidve family will return to London tomorrow after
praying at the crime spot in the Orsdall area of Salford.
They are also expected to visit Lancaster University,
where 23-year-old Anuj was a postgraduate student of
Microelectronics.
The university has decided to return his tuition fees.
The family is expected to leave for India with the body
tomorrow evening.
Meanwhile, Vaz also commended the Greater Manchester
Police for the speed of the investigation, leading to the
charging of Kiaran Stapleton from Ordsall, Salford for the
murder.
Stapleton has been charged with his murder and remanded
in custody until a plea and case management hearing on March
20.
Three other people arrested on suspicion of Anuj`s murder
have been granted bail until March pending further inquiries.
A fourth man, aged 19, had his bail cancelled.
PTI
