Hope police solves the jigsaw puzzle of Souvik's death: Father

Souvik Pal, a 19-year-old student of Manchester Metropolitan University, had been missing since a New Year's Eve party in Trafford, Greater Manchester, until his body was discovered by police in a canal on January 22.

"My son was a good swimmer and athlete and that canal was not so deep for him not be able to swim to safety. I do hope the police will be able to answer the question as to how he fell into the canal and solve the jigsaw puzzle behind my son's death," Santanu Pal, who is in Manchester and plans to return to India with Souvik's body by next week, told PTI.

His comments come in the wake of his family in India alleging foul play behind the incident.

Souvik's grandfather, Alokranjan Pal, had written to the UK Department of Health from his home in Bangalore urging a murder inquiry and dismissed the possibility of any involvement of drugs and alcohol.

"I would not like to comment further on the possibility of foul play while the police here are still investigating.

"Souvik was a very decent boy and would even insist that I must not smoke for health reasons. So I can't believe he would be indulging in activities that would jeopardise his health," Santanu Pal stressed.

Greater Manchester Police still believe Souvik's death was a "tragic accident" but will be returning to the Warehouse Project, the club he was seen leaving on New Year's Eve, to piece together his final movements.

"We still need to know when, how and where Souvik entered the water... Our work does not stop because his body has been found and reflects our commitment to do everything we can to provide as full a report as possible for the coroner," Detective Chief Inspector Colin Larkin said.