Eleven days after 23-year-old Indian student Anuj Bidve was killed in Manchester, his parents Yogini and Subhash Bidve brought the body back home from the United Kingdom. Anuj was cremated on Saturday evening.
Anuj's parents and brother-in-law Rakesh Sonawane, who had accompanied them to the U.K., arrived in Mumbai on Saturday morning. Outside the Bidves' residence, more than 500 people gathered to express condolences to the family.
Inside, the family quietly huddled around the body.
The reality of the loss of a dear brother, son, grandson, cousin, friend and nephew seemed to sink in, with Mr. Subhash Bidve calmly addressing every visitor. The grief in the room palpable, the family waited patiently for all the visitors to see Anuj for the last time.
Anuj, a student at Lancaster University, was shot dead on Boxing Day in Manchester where he was spending his Christmas holidays. Since then, it has been an ordeal for his family back in Pune: it started with finding out about the unfortunate incident through Facebook seven hours after he was murdered; followed by a 10-day wait to see the body. Throughout, bringing Anuj's body back to India remained a priority for the family.
Having arrested five persons in connection with the murder, the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) visited Pune on January 2 to reach out to the family, update them on the investigation process, and answer their questions on the circumstances that led to Anuj's death.
The family made repeated appeals for the release of the body which, according to British laws, had to undergo a second autopsy by an independent pathologist as right of the defence. The body was finally handed over to the Indian High Commission on January 3. Anuj's parents and brother-in-law left for the U.K. on January 4 and visited the spot of the murder and his university.
Justice, the next step
Justice for Anuj is now the next step. The family has shown satisfaction in the probe by the Greater Manchester Police.
Anuj, who was described by his father to this correspondent as “lively and caring,” had left for the U.K. to pursue M.Sc. in Microelectronics in September 2011. A Manchester United fan, Anuj wanted to visit Old Trafford, the club's stadium. A dream that Anuj was to fulfil soon, according in his last conversation with his father on Christmas.
