LONDON: Slain Indian student Anuj Bidve's body was on Wednesday released by the coroner to a funeral company in London, from where it is expected to be flown to India for final rites, more than a week after he was murdered in an unprovoked attack in an apparent hate crime in the UK.
23-year-old Bidve's body was released by the coroner after a second post-mortem, which was conducted on Tuesday.
The body is expected to be taken to India by members of the Bidve family later this week for final rites.
Subhash Bidve, father of the victim, will visit the site of the gruesome incident in Salford with other family members on Friday, the Manchester police said today.
There are also plans for the bereaved family members, who are due to arrive in London later on Wednesday, to visit Lancaster University, where the Pune boy studied.
Anuj Bidve, a postgraduate student of Microelectronics at Lancaster University, was killed in an unprovoked attack from point blank range after a brief conversation on Boxing Day. A man identified as Kiaran Stapleton has been charged with his murder.
Lancaster University has informed India's Consul in Birmingham, RR Swain, that it will refund the tuition fees paid by Bidve.
The Bidve family had reportedly raised a loan against their house in Pune to finance his study.
Swain told PTI: "The steps taken by Lancaster University to refund Bidve's fees and to offer pastoral care for other Indian students who were with Bidve are welcome."
The university today paid tributes to him and promised to do everything possible to support his family and friends.
Professor Bob McKinlay, acting Vice Chancellor of Lancaster University, said: "Anuj Bidve was studying for a post graduate degree in micro electronics at Lancaster University. He was an outstanding applicant at the very beginning of a promising career and had only been at Lancaster for a short time."
He added: "We are deeply saddened by his loss and our thoughts are with his family and friends and we will do all we can to support them at this sad time."
Professor Andrew Richardson from the Engineering Department where Bidve was studying, said: "Anuj joined the Engineering department in October as an MSc. He had completed two modules where he had excelled in the practical work and just prior to Christmas had been awarded an A+. Anuj was looking forward to the next stage of his studies."
Richardson added: "Anuj was a pleasure to teach. His enthusiasm and attention to detail was part of what makes teaching in a university environment such a pleasurable experience. My academic colleagues and fellow PhD students will greatly miss Anuj. My heart goes out to his family and friends."
A memorial ceremony will be held on January 21 at Lancaster University where students and staff will be able to share memories of Anuj's life.
The university was represented at the candlelit vigil held in Salford last week and a memorial book has been set up for Anuj which will be sent to his family as a tribute to their son.