Indian student shot dead in UK

London, Dec 27 (ANI): A 23-year-old Indian student in Britain has been shot dead during a visit with friends to Manchester.

Anuj Bidve was studying a micro-electronics postgraduate qualification at Lancaster University.

Bidve, along with his other Indian friends walked from their hotel in Salford towards Manchester city centre on Monday, where they were stopped by a man who began a short conversation with the victim before taking out a handgun and blasting him at close range.

Greater Manchester Police said it was an "awful" attack and pledged to "leave no stone unturned" in the hunt for the killer, The Telegraph reports.

Chief Superintendent Kevin Mulligan, divisional commander for Salford, said that a racial motive for the killing was not being ruled out, and that they are "investigating every possible aspect."

"This is a tragic incident and our first thoughts are for the family.There is going to be a huge amount of concern in the community and I can reassure the family and the community by telling them we have launched a major investigation and no stone will be left unturned until we find the people who are responsible for this," the officer added.

According to the report, officers carried out forensic examinations at the scene and stepped up patrols of the area.

Post mortem results are expected to confirm tomorrow that Bidve died of a single gunshot wound to the head.

Initial witness statements have been taken from the other eight students who are now "in a safe place" being cared for by police until they return to university, Mulligan said. (ANI)

amazing photos of 2011-part2

Bolivian squirrel monkeys gather around a toy football during a photocall at London Zoo in central London, on August 18, 2011. The zoo has a total of 22 squirrel monkeys, with one adult male 'Bounty' having fathered eleven offspring. AFP PHOTO/BEN STANSALL

 

 

Zoo performer Theerapone Manolai smiles as he puts his head between the jaws of a crocodile during a performance for tourists at the Sriracha Tiger Zoo, about 120 km (74 miles) east of Bangkok August 16, 2011. Kanthida Jantanct and Theerapone, both 28, from the province of Chaiyaphum, who have been crocodile performers at the zoo for almost ten years, earn at least 30,000 Baht (1,000 USD) per month for performing shows for at least 2,000 tourists, three times a day, to support their family. REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang 

 

 

 

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 24: A Street entertainer lays down on a bed of nails during a performance on the Royal Mile to promote their shows during in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival on August 24, 2011 in Edinburgh, Scotland. This 65th Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the largest arts festivals in the world, it was established as an alternative to the International Festival also held in August. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

 

 

 

 

Indian army personnel use a bulldozer during a rescue mission to save a wild elephant trapped in a water reservoir tank at Bengdubi army cantonment area some 25 kms from Siliguri on August 30, 2011. A wild elephant cub fell into the water reservoir tank as a herd crossed the area. Army personnel of 16 Field Ammunition Depot along with wildlife elephant squad of Mahananda wildlife sanctuary joined forces to save the animal. AFP PHOTO/Diptendu DUTTA

 

 

Pet bird Xiao Nuo pecks at the flash while perched on the lens of a camera during an interview by local media with its owner in Kunming, Yunnan province, August 18, 2011. The bird is attracted to cameras and will approach and investigate any cameras it sees, according to the owner. REUTERS/Wong Campion

 

 

Ana Julia Torres kisses Jupiter, a lion who was rescued from a circus 12 years ago, on September 17, 2011, at Villa Lorena shelter, in Cali, Valle del Cauca department, Colombia. Torres, a 52 year-old teacher, founded the Villa Lorena animal shelter 17 years ago, which protects about 600 animals seized from drug traffickers, circuses, animal traffickers or abandoned by their owners. AFP PHOTO/Luis ROBAYO

A woman dressed up as a zombie takes part in a "Zombie Walk" at the Revolution Monument in Mexico City on November 26, 2011. According to the organization, 9,600 people took part in the event in an attempt to set a new Guinness record.

 

A monkey drinks soda from a can during the annual "monkey buffet" in front of an ancient temple in Lopburi province, some 150 kms north of Bangkok on November 27, 2011. More than 2,000 kilos of fruits and vegetables were offered to monkeys during the annual festival to help promote tourism in the area. 

 

 

 

Etibar Elchiyev poses with 50 metal spoons magnetized to his body during an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for "Most spoons on a human body" in Tbilisi December 14, 2011. 

 

 

Kangaroos are seen during round one of the Australian PGA golf tournament in Coolum on November 24, 2011. The Australian PGA golf tournament runs from November 24-27, and features international players competing for the Kirkwood Cup .

 

 

An Indian pedestrian walks past the newly constructed upside down architectural clubhouse 'Caracella Club' which stands in part of a recent development at Indirapuram some 30kms south-east of New Delhi on November 29, 2011. India's Real Estate developer ABA Group launched the unique 'upside down' building which takes inspiration from Roman architectural designs, reportedly the third inverted building in the world. AFP PHOTO/Manan VATSYAYANA 

 

 

A nine day old mona monkey plays with its keeper and a soft toy on December 19, 2011 at the zoo in Magdeburg, eastern Germany. In the wild, the guenons live mainly in western African forests. AFP PHOTO / JENS WOLF

 

 

 

William Chavarriaga, 49-year-old cleaner at the Olaya Herrera Airport, poses as a cartoon character "Popeye the Sailor" during an interview with local media in Medellin January 17, 2011. Chavarriaga, who looks like the character Popeye, said he has been entertaining his friends and colleagues from the past 30 years. He said he continues playing Popeye because he likes the attention. REUTERS/Albeiro Lopera

 

 

A tame golden eagle lands on a hunter during an annual hunting competition outside Almaty December 10, 2011. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov

 

 

The world's tallest Basketball player, British man Paul 'Tiny' Sturgess (L), measuring 231.8cm high poses in front of the British inventor of the world's smallest legally roadworthy car Perry Watkins in his vehicle measuring 104.14cm high, 66.04cm wide and 132.08cm long at Guinness World Records Day in London on November 17, 2011. Wacky Guinness world record holders got together to race their unlikely vehicles like the world's fastest toilet and smallest roadworthy car in London the mark the 7th annual Guinness World Records day. AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALL.

 

 

 

The Patrouille Acrobatique de France team leave a smoke trail in the shape of a heart behind the minaret of a mosque as they perform on November 14, 2011 at the Dubai Airshow which opened the previous day with some analysts doubting that Gulf carriers, big spenders in recent years, will be doing much big-ticket buying. AFP PHOTO/KARIM SAHIB

 

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - OCTOBER 08: A Bull Frog hops around on the field as Carlos Costly #13 of Honduras brings the ball up in the rain against the USA at Sun Life Stadium on October 8, 2011 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)