Murder of Anuj Bidve

Flowers left in memory of Anuj Bidve at the murder scene

Anuj Bidve was an Indian MSc student enrolled on a micro-electronics course at Lancaster University who was shot and killed on 26 December 2011, while visiting friends in Salford, Manchester. The incident became internationally known after the police failed to inform the family and they learned about the death of their 23-year-old son on Facebook. The family complained about this, and about delays in processing the case and returning the body to them. As a result, the police sent two senior officers to Pune in India to apologise and give them details of the progress of the investigation. In particular, Assistant Chief Constable Dawn Copley said: "We felt it was important to make personal contact with the family. We need to explain to them in person where we are up to in the investigation." The family said that they had "complete trust and confidence in Greater Manchester Police".

As of 3 January 2012, five people had been arrested in total.However, three of the group have been bailed until March 2012 pending further inquiries. A fourth man, aged 19, who was originally bailed on Saturday has since had his "bail cancelled", police said, according to the BBC report. Previously, on January 2nd, the prime suspect had famously announced himself as Kiaran 'Psycho' Stapleton during his brief appearance at Manchester City Magistrate's Court.. Prosecutor Ben Southam then informed the court the case had to be sent to Manchester Crown Court as Stapleton was charged with murder. Stapleton, of Salford, was remanded in custody for 24 hours. There was no application for bail.

Controversies

These are mostly centred on the trauma suffered by Bidve's father Subhash when he learned about his son's death via a social networking site, before the police had been able to make contact; he stated that 'the world was finished for us' while laying flowers with his wife Yogini, and brother-in-law Rakesh Sonawane, at the murder scene. There is still much uncertainty over the motivation for the attack and how it should be treated in law. As of January 5th, the police had not established whether it was a hate crime or part of a gang initiation. Soon after, the UK coroner decided to release the body to the Indian consulate so that arrangements could be made to return it to Pune for the ceremony to take place there.

The story has gained attention from conspiracy researchers who controversially suggested that the entire incident was a fraud, an "elaborate TV drama" directed by the Royal Institute for International Affairs and staged by the BBC, the Crown Prosecution Service and senior figures at the Greater Manchester Police, with backing from professors at Lancaster University and actors employed to play the role of family and friends. This group has described the incident as an example of Psychological warfare to be used as a pretext for changes to the law, or the gradual introduction of police state measures, but the researchers admit they are undecided on the exact motive.

Circumstances of death and later family visit

Bidve was allegedly shot on Ordsall Lane at 01:30 GMT. He died later in hospital. According to some news reports, more than 400 people paid tribute at a memorial service for him on the night of January 2nd at the scene of the shooting in Salford. The spot is less than a mile from the skyscrapers of Manchester's city centre and its landmark Beetham Tower.

The Bidve family were accompanied on their visit by dignitaries from the consulate general of India in Birmingham. They were greeted by Chief Superintendent Russ Jackson of Greater Manchester Police, who had previously travelled to India to meet the family, as well as Dawn Copley and Barbara Spicer, the chief executive of Salford City Council. On January 5th, the family met Keith Vaz, chairman of the Parliamentary Home Affairs Select Committee, at Westminster. British Prime Minister David Cameron, who was on a visit to the North West at that time, spoke to the family on the phone, having earlier committed himself to meet the parents if they so wished.

The Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University Professor Mark E Smith said the university had provided financial assistance to the family and would hold a memorial ceremony for Anuj later in January.