London:
The 20-year-old man arrested for shooting Anuj Bidve near Manchester today described himself in court as "psycho." Asked to confirm his name and address, Kiaran Stapleton said his name is "Psycho. Psycho Stapleton". In Pune, two British police officers met with Anuj's parents amid allegations of insensitivity and red tape - Anuj's body has yet to be released. His father, Subhash Bidve, earlier alleged that the family learnt of Anuj's murder via Facebook.
Anuj, who was 23, was shot dead on December 26 when he was walking down the street in Salfrod near Manchester with a group of Indian friends. They were visiting the town during their Christmas vacation from college. Anuj moved to Lancaster University from his hometown in Pune in 2010.
Bidve's friends, local leaders and residents will hold a candle-light vigil in his memory this evening at the spot in Salford where he was killed.
At his home in Pune, two officers from the Greater Manchester Police have visited Anuj's family. Assistant Chief Constable Dawn Copley, who has overall command for the case, said, "We need to explain to them in person where we are up to in the investigation and what we are doing to ensure Anuj's body is released to them as soon as possible. Having this conversation face-to-face is absolutely the right thing to do. We know the family are extremely distressed that Anuj has not yet been returned to them." The Bidve family will have to wait a little longer to perform his last rites." The defence team has the right to apply for a second post mortem," Mr Copley explained.