London, Dec 31: Police in Britain have offered a reward of 50,000 pounds to anyone who tracks down the killers of 23-year-old Indian student Anuj Bidve who was shot dead in Manchester a day after Christmas.

Bidve was shot in the head at point-blank range as he walked with friends near their hotel in Manchester.

The killing is being treated as a "hate crime" that may have been racially motivated.

Officers from Greater Manchester Police announced the reward and said they hoped it would help catch the killer soon, The Sun reported.

"It is an extremely unusual, savage and motiveless attack, an absolutely horrific crime, which is why we are taking the step of issuing it (the reward) a bit earlier than we normally would," said detective chief superintendent Mary Doyle.

"We absolutely understand the need to take whoever is responsible for this off the streets. That's the reason we are issuing it now at such an early stage," she said.

Meanwhile, a top police official has apologised after it was found that Anuj Bidve's father found out about his son's murder only through Facebook.

Assistant Chief Constable Dawn Copley, who has overall command of the investigation, said Subhash Bidve read a post on the social networking website before police were able to get in touch with him to deliver the news.

"That is not the way anyone should have to find out something so devastating and we completely understand how upset the family are," she said.

"Social networking is instantaneous and we have no control over when and what people post on such sites, but no one should hear such tragic news in this way," Copley said.

A 16-year-old boy, two 17-year-olds and two aged 19 and 20 were arrested in connection with the murder.