THE FAMILY OF a young Indian student who was murdered in England found out about his death on Facebook.

Sky News reports that Greater Manchester Police have apologised to the family for not breaking the news to them in person.

Anuj Bidve (23) was shot in the head at point blank range.

He was walking with a group of friends on his way into Salford city centre at 1.35am on 26 December when he was confronted by the gunman, police said.

They had a “very brief conversation” and the man then produced a weapon and shot Bidve in the head.

Police believe that the murder was a hate crime and that it might have been racially motivated.

But they stressed they have not established a clear motive for the killing.

Two officers are now in constant contact with the family, the police said.

Two men, aged 19 and 20, are still in custody and three other teenagers have been released.

There is a £50,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and prosecution of the person responsible for the killing of Bidve.

A Facebook group has been set up called Justice for Anuj Bidve.

One person wrote: “I am ashamed of this country at times like this… this gentle intelligent young man taken from his family in such a despicable way”.