Pressure call over Burnley mans brutal death in India

THE family of a Burnley charity worker murdered while helping refugee children have called on the Foreign Office to put pressure on the Indian author-ities to help find his killer.

Family and friends of Michael Blakey, 23, made the plea after East Lancashire coroner Richard Taylor recorded an unlawful killing verdict into his death at the town's coroner's court.

The former Pike Hill resident's body was found in a gully beside the Church of St John in the Wilderness in the Himachal Pradesh region of Dharamsala in December 2006.

An inquest heard that the body of Michael, of Mayfair Road, was discovered with three large stones placed on his head, chest and lower abdomen.

Home office pathologist Dr Charles Wilson confirmed there was evidence of a sustained and forceful assault, and no fewer than 13 sites of bruising and abrasions on Michael's head, neck and upper body, contributing to his death.

But the inquest heard that British investigations into his death had been hampered by a lack of co-operation from the Indian authorities and Dr Wilson described a post-mortem examination on his body, carried out in India, as sub-standard.

Michael, a first-class honours student at Swansea University, had been working to establish a charity for street children from slum camps in the Himachal Pradesh area, which was to become known as Tong-Len, alongside Rachel Bhardwaj, a nurse and former Glasgow University student.

He was last seen three days before his death. Later his mobile phone was traced to a second hand dealer in the Punjabi town of Ludhania.

Pc Bob Wilson, coroner's officer, said that the Indian authorities had declined offers to have the phone analysed by experts from Lancashire Constabulary. The court heard that the husband of fellow Tong-Len founder Mrs Bhardwaj had been arrested and interviewed regarding Michael's murder, shortly after his body was discovered, but released without charge.

One of the final diary entries found in Michaels belongings noted the husband, Parwan, had threatened to kill him previously, convinced that he was having an affair with Rachel.

Outside the court Michael's mother Mary Whitford said: This was the verdict which we had always wanted.

We can now go to the Foreign Office and say to them that a British citizen has been unlawfully killed abroad and can they do something about it.

^^^^^^^^^^ 1st ever murder

SURRENDER OF PAKI ARMY IN 1971
1N 1971 A NEW HISTORY AS WELL AS A NEW NATION WAS CREATED BY WE THE INDIANS..