London:
The family of Anuj Bidve, the 23-year-old Indian student who was shot dead in the British city of Salford, will visit the site of the gruesome crime today. They are scheduled to offer prayers at the crime spot in the Orsdall area of Salford and will then return to India with Anuj's body by evening.
Subhash Bidve, Anuj's father, arrived in London on Wednesday along with wife Yogini and Anuj's brother-in-law Rakesh Sonawane. They viewed Anuj's body for the first time at a funeral parlor yesterday, more than a week after the 23-year-old was killed in an unprovoked attack.
Speaking to the media, Anuj's father made an impassioned plea that what happened to his son should not happen again. "It is really unfortunate that I have lost my son. It should not happen again... I want students to come here, complete their studies and go back," he said.
The family, yesterday, met Indian-origin Labour MP Keith Vaz in Parliament, before proceeding to Lancaster University, where their Anuj was a postgraduate student of Microelectronics.
The university has decided to return his tuition fees.
"I am pleased to welcome the Bidve family to Parliament. They have shown great dignity following the terrible circumstances of their son's death. This must be a very difficult time for them. We must reassure foreign students we are doing everything we can to ensure their safety in the UK," said Mr Vaz.
Kiaran Stapleton, from Ordsall, has been charged with the murder of Anuj Bidve and has been remanded to custody until a plea and case management hearing on March 20.
Three others arrested on suspicion of Anuj's murder have been granted bail until March pending further inquiries.
(
With PTI inputs)