Bring back Souvik's body soon: Family

The family of Indian student Souvik Pal, whose body was found in a canal near Manchester United Club's football ground in London, on Wednesday asked the government to prevail on Britain to expedite handing over their son's body and bear the cost of flying it back to India.

"We humbly request the External Affairs Ministry to prevail upon the British government to expedite the process of handing over Souvik's body to his family and bear the cost of flying it back to India," a close family friend of Souvik's father, who did not wish to be named, said.

He said Souvik's family is "distressed" over the time being taken by authorities to hand over his body.

He also said the family is not in a position to speak on any issue related to the death and had no information on the timing and possibility of bringing back Souvik's body.

Souvik, 18, who lived in Cavendish halls of residence on Cambridge Street, had gone missing since New Year's Eve at the Warehouse Project in Trafford, Greater Manchester. His father Shantanu had left for London from Bangalore to help with the search.