Parents pay tribute to hanged son

Mr Bennett was an experienced traveller

The parents of a Gloucestershire father-of-two found dead in India have praised their son's character as "affable, friendly and loyal".

Stephen Bennett, 40, who lived in Cheltenham, Gloucs, was found near the town of Roha on 12 December. Police said he was beaten and hanged.

Indian police have launched a murder investigation, and four people have been arrested.

Carol and Maureen Bennett said their son was an experienced traveller.

"Stephen had travelled to a variety of places before, including Thailand and Indonesia.

"He had also travelled to China while studying for his Masters degree in Chinese Theatre Studies at Leeds University.

"At the time of his death, he was taking a holiday in Goa and he made a number of phone calls to us up until 7 December.

"Following that we did not hear from him until the police contacted us on December 12 and told us of his death," they said.

Roha police inspector Vikram Patil has told the BBC that Mr Bennett had called at a house in the early hours and surprised a woman, who woke up two men inside.

"He knocked, she panicked and woke up [two men]," Mr Patil said.

He said it was thought Mr Bennett was then beaten with sticks before being throttled with a sari and hanged from a tree.

"The investigations are continuing and police are still looking for evidence... as well as finding out the reason for Mr Bennett being there at all," the inspector said.

Mr Bennett is the second Briton to be murdered in India in less than two weeks.

Charity worker Mike Blakey, 23, from Burnley, was battered to death in the town of Dharamsala in northern India on 29 November.