One year since Harshita Brella was strangled to death in the UK, there is a sense of disbelief in her family home in the Indian capital Delhi. Why has her killer not been caught yet? Neither the UK government nor the Indian government are doing anything, Harshita's mother Sudesh Kumari says, sobbing into her scarf. I want justice for my daughter. Only then will I find peace.
Harshita's body was found in the boot of a car in Ilford, east London, on 14 November 2024, a day after her family contacted UK police to say they had not heard from her since 10 November. Police believe Harshita, 24, was murdered on that day in Corby, Northamptonshire, by her husband Pankaj Lamba, who fled to India soon after the killing and is still on the run.
The couple, both Indian nationals, had moved from Delhi to the UK, settling in Corby earlier that year. In March this year, police in Northamptonshire charged him with murder, and he faces additional charges including rape and controlling behavior. Harshita's sister, Sonia Dabas, voiced frustration at the pace of investigations, feeling that the UK police might not take their case seriously because they are not citizens of the UK.
Sonia disclosed that on 3 September, just two months before Harshita was killed, she had filed a case against her husband for domestic abuse. He was arrested but released on bail, and Sonia accuses the police of negligence in handling the domestic abuse report. Investigations by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) are ongoing regarding the fatal handling of this case.
The Delhi Police have been accused of inaction. Harshita's family suspects that Pankaj is receiving protection from local authorities in India, claiming to have sightings of him in the area. Harshita's family continues to demand accountability and justice as they mourn their loss, recalling the warmth and kindness of their daughter who had a bright future ahead of her.
Harshita's body was found in the boot of a car in Ilford, east London, on 14 November 2024, a day after her family contacted UK police to say they had not heard from her since 10 November. Police believe Harshita, 24, was murdered on that day in Corby, Northamptonshire, by her husband Pankaj Lamba, who fled to India soon after the killing and is still on the run.
The couple, both Indian nationals, had moved from Delhi to the UK, settling in Corby earlier that year. In March this year, police in Northamptonshire charged him with murder, and he faces additional charges including rape and controlling behavior. Harshita's sister, Sonia Dabas, voiced frustration at the pace of investigations, feeling that the UK police might not take their case seriously because they are not citizens of the UK.
Sonia disclosed that on 3 September, just two months before Harshita was killed, she had filed a case against her husband for domestic abuse. He was arrested but released on bail, and Sonia accuses the police of negligence in handling the domestic abuse report. Investigations by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) are ongoing regarding the fatal handling of this case.
The Delhi Police have been accused of inaction. Harshita's family suspects that Pankaj is receiving protection from local authorities in India, claiming to have sightings of him in the area. Harshita's family continues to demand accountability and justice as they mourn their loss, recalling the warmth and kindness of their daughter who had a bright future ahead of her.
