The UK police have launched an international manhunt for Pankaj Lamba, the Indian-origin husband suspected of murdering his 24-year-old wife, Harshita Brella.
Her body was discovered in the boot of a car in Ilford, east London, last week. The Northamptonshire Police suspect that Lamba fled the country after allegedly killing his wife earlier this month, with Chief Inspector Paul Cash confirming that over 60 detectives are actively working on the case.
“Our inquiries lead us to suspect that Harshita was murdered in Northamptonshire earlier this month by her husband, Pankaj Lamba,” chief inspector Cash said, according to PTI.
“We believe he transported her body from Northamptonshire to Ilford by car. More than 60 detectives are currently involved in the investigation, conducting house-to-house inquiries, property searches, and reviewing CCTV footage,” he added.
The investigation began after Northamptonshire Police received a call on Wednesday raising concerns about Harshita’s welfare. Officers were deployed to her home in Corby but found no response, prompting a missing person investigation.
Their inquiries led them to discover Brella’s body inside the boot of a vehicle on Brisbane Road, Ilford, in the early hours of Thursday morning. A post-mortem examination conducted at Leicester Royal Infirmary confirmed she had been murdered, reported Sky News.
Neighbouring residents described Brella’s home as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO). One neighbour reported hearing loud arguments and furniture being thrown days before the incident, stating, “She seemed like a lovely young woman… It’s a shame to lose someone so young,” Sky News reported.
The Northamptonshire Police, along with the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU), are investigating the murder as a “targeted incident.”
Detective Chief Inspector Johnny Campbell expressed condolences, describing the victim as a young woman with her entire life ahead of her. “It is absolutely tragic that her life has been cut short in this way,” he stated. The force is appealing for any information from the public that could help piece together the events leading to her death.
As part of the investigation, the police are examining connections between Brella’s disappearance from Corby, approximately 145 kilometres from London, and her body being found in the capital. They are also looking into previous domestic abuse concerns, with reports indicating that Harshita had been under a protective court order earlier this year.