Compensation to the next of kin of K Suryanarayana is not being delayed because of the feud that has crept up after a "second wife" of the slain Indian telecom engineer turned up, his Bahrain-based employers have said.

The Almoayed Group, that had employed Suryanarayana, beheaded by the Taliban in Afghanistan in April this year, said the company was not taking responsibility for anybody but Manjula and her three children because they were the only ones named as engineer's immediate family in his contract with the firm.

"We have not delayed any compensation package. On the other hand, we have secured the admission of Manjula's three children in Silver Oaks boarding school in Hyderabad and are setting up a trust fund for the Rs 20 million compensation so that the family's future is secure," a company spokesman told the Bahrain Tribune newspaper.

"Our chairman is in touch with the family and in the most recent e-mail, he offered to meet Manjula when he was in Hyderabad and pay for her medical bills arising from her unfortunate suicide attempt upon hearing about a second wife.

"The delay has not affected the quality of life of the family in any way," he said, "since the children's education has been taken care of by the Almoayed Group and medical emergencies faced by Manjula and her three children will also be taken care of by the company."

Work on the company's telecoms project in Afghanistan is continuing, said the spokesman and there has been no slackening in pace or reduction of personnel following the April 30 beheading of Suryanarayana by the Taliban.