The family of a student who was shot dead in Salford on Boxing Day has been speaking outside Parliament with Keith Vaz MP.
Mr Vaz, who is head of the home affairs select committee, spoke outside parliament alongside the parents of Mr Bidve, who flew into the UK last night as part of a trip to learn more about the investigation into their son’s death.
Anuj Bidve, 23, was shot in the head as he walked through the Ordsall district of Salford with friends at around 1.30am on 26 December. He died a short time later in hospital. Kiaran Stapleton, 20, of Ordsall, has been charged with his murder.
Mr Bidve’s father Subhash Bidve, found out about his son’s death on Facebook at home in Pune, India, before police in the UK could contact him. He told journalists outside the House of Commons that he hoped no other families would go through what he has: “I feel as a father, this should not happen again. A lot of Indian students come here, I humbly request you all, make sure that all the students come here..and go back to thier own countries. I can’t say more than this.”
They want to know what happened to their son, who came 10,000 miles to study in this country Keith Vaz, MP
Mr Vaz said the family needed to know why their son was killed: “They want to know what happened [to] their 23 year old son, who came 10,000 miles to study in this country. They had mortgaged their house, they were due to come to England in September for his ceremony of convocation. They never thought they would come in circumstances of this kind.
“For legal reasons they can’t contact the people who were there on the night, but I have promised them that once the criminal proceedings are completed, I will ask for a full report of what happened. Unless they get that information there will never be closure.”
He added that many people have been in touch to offer their support for the family: “Many people have contacted me who wish to acknowledge the memory of Anuj and to express their sadness at what happened. They are keen to set up a fund to acknowledge the memory of Anuj and I will pass that information on to the family.
Mr Bidve was with a group of fellow Indian students visiting Manchester for christmas. He had been studying for a micro-electronics postgraduate qualification at Lancaster University since last September.
Hundreds of people attended a candlelit memorial service for Mr Bidve on 2nd January at the place where he was gunned down in Ordsall Lane, while a peace march was also held for him in New Delhi.
Mr Bidve’s family are expected to visit the place that he died on Friday, and is also thought to have planned a visit to Lancaster University.
Mr Stapleton appeared before magistrates via video link on Tuesday and was remanded into custody until his next hearing at Manchester Crown Court in March.