Scores of grieving students from the University of Wolverhampton have held a special ceremony in memory of a 23-year-old woman colleague who was battered to death this week.
Tragic Samrajyo Jyothirmai Vempala was found dead at her digs in Handsworth on Tuesday.
She had arrived in this country from India just eight months ago to take a Masters degree in health care.
Her student friends were joined by members of staff for the gathering in her honour in a room at the University’s School of Health. Prayers were led by the University Chaplain the Reverend Geoffrey Wynne.
The room was filled with flowers and a photograph of Jyothirmai for the half-hour ceremony and candles were lit for the tragic post-graduate student. The Indian consul general in Birmingham, Jordana Diengdoh Pavel, was among those represented.
“It was a time for reflection and deep sadness,” the university’s marketing and communications director Ashar Ehsan said.
Vice-chancellor Professor Caroline Gipps added: “We have all been shocked by the tragic news of the death of one of our students.
“She was bright, hardworking and a model international student.
“Our deepest sympathies have been conveyed directly to the parents of Miss Vempala and our priority remains offering them comfort and full support in their grief.
“Their daughter has been remembered in the way they would have wished – as a dutiful daughter who had enhanced the opportunities of life.”
Police also found an injured man at the house in Montague Road, Handsworth, where the body of Jyothirmai was discovered.
He was taken to hospital for treatment before being arrested and questioned over her death.
Nagraj Kumar Nalloori, aged 24, later made a brief appearance at Birmingham Magistrates Court charged with her murder and was remanded in custody to appear again next Friday.
It is unclear what his relation is to the dead woman. University officials have declined to discuss whether he was also one of their students.
The Indian High Commission is apparently considering adding to the advice it offers the 20,000 students who come to the UK to study at university each year in light of the tragedy.
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