The grief-stricken parents of Anuj Bidve today made a tearful visit to the spot where the Indian student was shot dead in an apparent hate crime, and hoped those responsible for the "senseless" killing of their only would be brought to justice.
Shattered by what they called was an incomprehensible loss, the parents said the visit was an "exceedingly difficult" one to make, but they had chosen to come to Salford to witness first hand the place where their son breathed his last so as to keep his memories alive all their life.
The distraught parents are set to return with Anuj's body to their home town Pune where a funeral will be held, possibly tomorrow evening.
"There are no words, the world is finished for us, this is what I can say," a sorrowful Subhash Bidve, the father of the 23-year-old, told reporters in Salford, as his wife Yogini stood with him, silently wiping off her tears.
He said they had chosen to send Anuj to UK, preferring the European nation over other destinations like the US and Australia, believing it would be the safest for him.
However, they said they were "overwhelmed" by the expressions of support from the people, both in the UK and India, and were optimistic about the British police's handling of the case.
"We do not blame the people of this city for what happened. The only person we blame is the man responsible for taking Anuj away from us in such a senseless act of violence on Boxing Day morning," the family said in a statement.
Prime Minister David Cameron, who is visiting the North West, has said he would be happy to meet Bidve's parents to speak about their son's death.
The family laid flowers at the scene and prayed for their son after speaking to the media.
They have been retracing Anuj's final moments and earlier visited the hotel room where he had stayed. It has not been in use since the death of Anuj at the request of the police, acting on behalf of the family.
Bidve, a postgraduate student of Microelectronics at the Lancaster University, was shot in the head at close range on December 26 as he walked along Ordsall Lane with friends.
Yesterday, the family picked up his belongings from Lancaster University and met his friends and tutors.
"Whilst in England we have taken the opportunity to meet a number of other people who were involved in Anuj's life and to achieve our goal of taking Anuj back home with us as soon as possible. When Anuj left India in September last year he was full of hope and ambition for the future. We were all so very proud of him," they said.
Anuj was in Manchester on a shopping holiday with his friends when he was killed.
A 20-year-old youth called "Psycho Stapleton" has been charged with Anuj's murder and remanded in custody until a plea and case management hearing on March 20.
Three other people arrested on suspicion of Anuj's murder have been granted bail until March pending further inquiries.
A fourth man, aged 19, had his bail cancelled.
"That is the reason we were here and to offer our last prayers at the place where he was shot," Bidve said answering questions at length.
"We have made the journey from India in order to see Anuj, see the place where he died, and most importantly take Anuj home with us," the statement by the Bidve family said.
Asked about Cameron's desire to meet them, Bidve said they would definitely want to meet the Prime Minister if he does wish so.
Bidve paid tribute to his son, describing him as a "very disciplined and brilliant student". The family also thanked the police for the way they had handled the investigation.
He said his family was yet to assess what their future would be like without Anuj, whom he described as "a very nice and humble person".
"The impact is very big. We do not know, we will have to think about our future and in this old age, how we will be able to handle this," Bidve said.
Asked about what he felt of the police's response in the case, Bidve said he found it "fairly good" and felt police was taking it "very seriously".
"We would like to thank the police for the manner in which this investigation has been conducted. We are confident in the British justice system and sincerely hope that this will eventually bring justice for Anuj," they said.
"Anuj was our only son and we cannot comprehend this dreadful tragedy.
"The education system in the UK is far better and we thought this is the safest place in the world. We were thinking to send him to the US or Australia but the whole family decided to send him to England for higher education," said Bidve.
Bidve's family arrived in the UK from India on Wednesday and are expected to take Anuj's body home.
During the family's visit to Lancaster University yesterday, Professor Mark E Smith, vice-chancellor of the University said it had provided financial assistance to the family and would hold a memorial ceremony for Bidve later in January.
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