Anuj Bidve parents 'see son'

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Slain Indian student Anuj Bidve's parents have viewed his body for the first time at a funeral parlour here, more than a week after the Pune boy was killed in an unprovoked attack in the British city of Salford.

Subhash Bidve, father of Anuj, arrived in London last evening along with wife Yogini Bidve 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.

The family is scheduled to meet Indian-origin Labour MP Keith Vaz in Parliament, before proceeding to Lancaster University, where 23-year-old Anuj was a postgraduate student of Microelectronics.

The university has decided to return his tuition fees. The family will return to London tomorrow after praying at the crime spot in the Orsdall area of Salford.

They are likely to make a statement to the media after praying at the spot and expected to leave for India with the body tomorrow evening.

Vaz said: "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."

Kiaran Stapleton, from Ordsall, 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 Bidve's murder have been granted bail until March pending further inquiries. A fourth man, aged 19, had his bail cancelled.