A FAMILY whose son was kidnapped and murdered are hopeful the British Government will step in to help them.
Yesterday, the Mail revealed UK-born Ishan Rawal, eight, was kidnapped from a hospital opening celebration and strangled in a secluded woodland.
Ishan lived in Beverley with his doctor parents Arvind and Nikita and 11-year-old brother Rusheek before the family moved to India to set up a hospital.
The boys had attended Molescroft Primary School, while Dr Arvind Rawal was a surgeon at Hull Royal Infirmary and Dr Nikita Rawal was a clinical fellow at Castle Hill Hospital. Molescroft Primary headteacher Michael Loncaster is holding a special assembly this morning, so the school can join together in memory of Ishan. He has also spoken to the children in year four – the year group Ishan would have been in, had he stayed at the school instead of moving with his family to India. However, he did not give the full circumstances of Ishan's death. Mr Loncaster said: "I broke the news that Ishan had died, though I did not mention the circumstances, as I will leave that to the parents' discretion. "We shared thoughts about him, had time for reflection and said prayers for him and his family. "Ishan was a lovely boy with a great personality and many talents." He said the entire school community has been shocked by Ishan's murder. Mr Loncaster said: "We were very sad to lose the family when they returned to India, as they had been great supporters of the school. "This news is totally shocking and we can't imagine the pain the family must be going through. "They remain in all our prayers."
Ishan was snatched at the inauguration ceremony at Royal Shanti Hospital in Indore, India, on June 22.
Nikita, 42, said: "We aren't satisfied with what the police have done – they have arrested someone but we think there is more to it than that.
"The kidnap was so well-organised, we think other people were involved.
"A team are coming from the British High Commission to meet the police officers here today and, hopefully, we can get a full inquiry.
"We need the highest level of investigation to find out what happened."
Ishan was taken from the celebration day by Shaan Das.
He took the little boy to a woodland a few miles away from the hospital where he strangled him.
At first, he denied murder, but eventually confessed to police officers later that day.
The reason he gave for the horrific murder was that the Rawals had refused to employ him at their hospital.
But the family are convinced there is more to the murder, as they do not believe someone would kill a child over a job.
This is why they are now calling on the British Government to step in and help.
Nikita said: "We want to make this public so we can get as many people to help as possible.
"I can't get my son back, but I can fight for justice and for the future of other children.
"Since the article in the Mail, we've had lots of contact from people in the UK wanting to help.
"We are so pleased people want to support us."
When the Rawals worked at Hull Royal and Castle Hill, they were employed by Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust.
A trust spokesman said: "We would like to offer our condolences to the couple at this very difficult time."
The family are urging people to email the British High Commission in New Dehli at web.newdelhi@fco. gov.uk to support their quest for answers.
