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Fifth Arrest Over Indian Student Killing

Indian Student's Parents In Death Scene Visit

A fifth person has been arrested by police investigating the murder of an Indian student who was shot in the head.

Anuj Bidve was targeted at point-blank range as he walked with friends near their hotel in Salford, Greater Manchester, in the early hours of Boxing Day.

Officers said a 20-year-old man was arrested in the early hours of today. A 16-year-old boy, two boys aged 17 and a 19-year-old man are also being held on suspicion of murder.

Mr Bidve, 23, was in a group of nine male and female Indian students visiting Manchester for a short break over the Christmas holidays.

Police said the students, who had not been drinking, were walking from their hotel towards the city centre when the attack happened.

The killer, who shot Mr Bidve at close range to the side of the head, then fled with another man towards Asgard Drive and the Ordsall housing estate.

Armed response units were sent to the scene at around 1.35am. Mr Bidve collapsed to the ground and died in hospital a short time later.

The victim, who was studying for a micro-electronics postgraduate qualification at Lancaster University, arrived in the UK in September after completing an electronics degree at Pune University.

He was described by tutors in Britain as "an outstanding applicant at the very beginning of a promising career".

His family in Pune, Maharashtra, said they had "lost faith in everything" as they struggle to come to terms with the tragedy.

In a statement issued through police, they said: "Anuj was a loving son, a super caring brother and first and forever a friend for many."

Members of his family have said they intend to fly to Manchester by the end of the week to take his body to India.

Norman Owen, leader of Salford's Liberal Democrats, said the shooting brought "shame" on Salford and it needed to "rid itself" of the gun "culture" and work with police, parents and schools to address it.

Anyone with information on the attack is asked to call the incident room on 0161 856 5448 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 .