LONDON: A 23-year-old Indian student studying at Lancaster University in northwest England was shot dead early on Monday at Salford in the suburbs of Manchester. Greater
Manchester Police said he was part of a group of nine Indian students staying at a nearby hotel for Christmas holiday. An armed unit of the police reached the spot around 1.35am following reports of a shooting near a McDonald's restaurant. The student was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. His parents in India were informed about his death. Police said the Indian students were heading towards the town centre when a gunman approached and engaged the student in a conversation . A minute later, he pulled out a handgun and shot the student in the head, police said. He collapsed to the ground and the killer ran off towards an estate of local council houses. The gunman was described as white, in his mid-20 s and of slim build. He was said to be wearing a grey top. A second man, of a heavier build and wearing a black jacket, was with him. There was nothing in statements of early witness to suggest the attack was a robbery or racially motivated , said police. Chief Superintendent Kevin Mulligan, divisional commander for Salford, said, "This appears to be an unprovoked attack, and we can't establish a motive at this time. We are investigating every possible aspect and are in the early stages of the investigation , but we are not ruling anything out."
