Bereaved Bidves seek Krishna's help to get son's body from UK

Disappointment dawned on the bereaved Bidves yesterday after UK officials informed them that the body of their slain son Anuj could not be flown back to India till investigations are done.u00a0Aware that the whole process could take at least 10 days, the grieving family has sought Foreign Minister S M Krishna's intervention in the matter and urged him to approach his UK counterparts to expedite the investigations.

Yesterday, Birmingham Consul Officials and the Greater Manchester police informed the family that that mortal remains the student, who was killed in an unprovoked 'racial' firing in the UK on Monday, cannot be flown out the country till the second autopsy is done. The investigations are likely to be completed till Friday.

Suruchi Wagh, the deceased's cousin, said, "We have urged the Foreign Minister to personally look into this matter."u00a0Suruchi Wagh added that Consul Officials and Investigating officers were constantly updating them. "We have been informed that investigative authorities are hopeful to complete the investigation till Friday," Suruchi said, adding the dispatch might also be delayed further due to year-end vacations in the UK.u00a0

Yogini, mother of the victim, said, "We don't want to delay the stipulated time period for the last rites as per Hindu rituals. Therefore we earnestly request UK authorities to dispatch the body soon."u00a0The family has also urged Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and MP Supriya Sule to help them get his mortal remains at the earliest.

When Mid DAY contacted Basant Gupta, Additional Secretary General of Ministry of External Affairs, through twitter, he said, "Our Consulate in Birmingham will extend all possible assistance in the matter."u00a0Asked whether the attack on Anuj was a racial one, he stuck to a diplomatic answer. "The police are investigating all aspects including motive of the crime," he said.