Police ‘sorry’ after father learns of son’s death online

A BRITISH police chief apologised after it emerged that the father of a student blasted to death on St Stephen’s Day found out about his son’s murder on Facebook.

Anuj Bidve, 23, was shot in the head at point-blank range as he walked with friends near their hotel in the inner-city Ordsall district of Salford in the early hours of December 26.

The murder of the Indian student is being treated by Greater Manchester Police as a hate crime which may have been racially motivated. Detectives have offered a £50,000 (€59,000) reward for information.

Assistant chief constable Dawn Copley confirmed that Subhash Bidve, the victim’s father, read a post on Facebook before officers were able to get in touch.

She said: “That is not the way anyone should have to find out something so devastating and we completely understand how upset the family are.

“Social networking is instantaneous and we have no control over when and what people post on such sites, but no one should hear such tragic news in this way,” the police boss added.

Police said a 16-year-old boy and two 17-year-old boys arrested over the murder were released on bail pending further inquiries. Two men, aged 19 and 20, remain in custody.

Copley said: “A family liaison officer was quickly put in place after Anuj’s murder who made exhaustive inquiries to try and inform the family and deliver the awful news personally.

“Unfortunately, as the officer was attempting to contact the family through the right channels, a post was put on Facebook.”

Bidve told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Nobody official from the UK Government or consulate or the Indian government called us. I am really surprised because they confiscated his phone and must have known his father’s or mother’s number.”