Police have launched an international manhunt for the husband of a young woman whose body was found in a car boot almost 100 miles from her home.
Officers set up a murder probe after Harshita Brella, 24, from Corby in Northamptonshire, was discovered in the back of a vehicle in Ilford, east London.
Northamptonshire Police had said they believed she was killed by someone who was ‘known to her’ – and they this afternoon named her husband Pankaj Lamba as a suspect, saying they believed he had fled the country and issuing two photos of him.
The probe follows alarms being raised last Wednesday when Northamptonshire Police received a call regarding concerns over Harshita’s welfare.
Officers were sent round to her home address in Corby, Northamptonshire, but received no answer at the door.
A missing person investigation was launched and after enquiries were fast-tracked she was found in Ilford on Thursday – some 95.7 miles away from the shared house she lived in.
Officers appealed for anyone with information to get in touch as soon as possible – while the force is also putting in place extra patrols around Corby.
And this afternoon, at a news conference, the force’s Chief Inspector Paul Cash said in a statement: ‘We have followed a number of lines of investigation and carried out numerous inquiries and we are now able to provide a further update.
Harshita Brella was reported missing on November 13 by the authorities after Northamptonshire Police conducted a welfare check at her home in Skegness Walk, Corby and got no answer
Northamptonshire Police this afternoon named her husband Pankaj Lamba as a suspect, saying they believed he had fled the country
Harshita’s body was found 94 miles from her home in Northamptonshire
‘Our inquiries lead us to suspect that Harshita was murdered in Northamptonshire earlier this month by her husband Pankaj Lamba.
‘We suspect Lamba transported Harshita’s body from Northamptonshire to Ilford by car. We believe he has now fled the country.
‘More than 60 detectives are working on the case and are continuing to follow numerous lines of inquiry, including house to house, property searches, CCTV and ANPR.
‘We are of course continuing to appeal for any information that will help us piece together exactly what happened as we work to get justice for Harshita.’
Forensic officers in protective wear were this morning seen visiting her home in Corby while uniformed police guarded the property.
Chief Insp Hall said of the victim: ‘On behalf of Northamptonshire Police, I would like to express my deepest and heartfelt condolences to Harshita’s family and friends, and to everyone who knew and loved her.
‘Harshita was a young woman in her early 20s, with her whole life ahead of her and everything to live for, and it is absolutely tragic that her life has been cut short in this way.’
Meanwhile, one local in Ilford told MailOnline: ‘They seemed to be focusing on a car. It’s horrific. It’s quite an unsafe area. That poor woman must have gone through hell. It’s deeply shocking. I’ve felt sick. She must have gone through so much pain.’
Forensic officers were today pictured at 24-year-old Harshita Brella’s Corby property after the discovery of her body in the back of a car almost 100 miles away in Ilford, east London
Officers are seen on Sunday morning at murder victim Harshita Brella’s Corby home
Police were pictured at her cordoned-off property in Corby, Northamptonshire, on Sunday morning as the murder probe continued
They continued: ‘Officers swarmed all over the street and were here for hours. It looked incredibly serious.
‘There was screaming on the street earlier in the week. It’s rough around here so I didn’t bat an eyelid. There’s always drug dealing and attacks and all sorts.’
A forensic postmortem examination, which took place at Leicester Royal Infirmary on Friday, confirmed that Harshita had been murdered.
A neighbour at Harshita’s home in Corby told the Northampton Chronicle that the house the young woman lived in had been used as an HMO (house in multiple occupation), and at one point last year had 12 people living in it.
The number of occupants has since reduced and the neighbour said she believed that the house had Bulgarian, Moldovan and Portuguese residents.
The property had been largely peaceful since some noise complaints were resolved last year, the neighbour added.
But she said that earlier this week she heard a commotion, adding: ‘The way that gate slammed I knew something had happened. Someone took off quickly.
‘I had heard banging coming from the house and then they obviously just legged it. The police have been here about four days.’
As officers guarded Harshita Brella’s home in Corby, Northamptonshire Police said extra patrols would be put on in the area to help reassure residents
Forensic officers were seen visiting Harshita Brella’s Corby home on Sunday morning
Brisbane Road in Ilford, east London. A forensic postmortem examination, which took place at Leicester Royal Infirmary on Friday, confirmed that Harshita had been murdered
Police cordoned off the scene where Harshita Brella’s body was then found in the back of a vehicle in Ilford, east London – almost 100 miles away from her Northamptonshire home
A murder investigation is ongoing after the 24-year-old’s body was found in a car boot near the entrance of Valentines Park in Ilford, East London
A general view of Skegness Walk in Corby where Harshita Brella lived in a house share
Forensic officers spent hours at the scene of the car, only removing a tent there on Friday.
And police have been asking locals whether they had seen any suspicious activity in the area – especially relating to men.
One person, who asked not to be named, said: ‘It’s a mystery how she ended up here – the poor woman.
‘Officers asked me if I’d seen anything suspicious – they basically asked if any dodgy men had been in the area.
‘They seem to suggest they know who did it. They seemed to want to know about men in particular.’
Shop worker Paul Sidebottom, 54, said police had spent hours in the street and had asked locals for CCTV.
He said: ‘Our shop CCTV hasn’t shown anything. They asked if I’d seen or heard anything. They seemed very concerned.’
Northamptonshire Police have also referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) due to previous contact they had with the victim.
A missing person investigation was launched and after enquiries were fast-tracked she was found on Brisbane Road (pictured), Ilford, on Thursday – some 95.7 miles away from her home
Map showing the location that Harshita’s body was discovered on Brisbane Road
The body of the woman was found in the boot of a car on Brisbane Road, pictured, in Ilford
Map showing the location of Harshita Brella’s home on Skegness Walk in Corby
Police are today continuing to search for whoever was responsible for Harshita Brella’s death, as they appealed for anyone with information to get in touch as soon as possible
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Johnny Campbell from the East Midlands Special Operations Major Crime Unit (EMSOU), had said on Saturday evening: ‘First of all, I want to express my heartfelt condolences to everyone who loved Harshita Brella.
‘She was a young woman in her early 20s with her whole life ahead of her and it is absolutely tragic that her life has been cut short in this way.
‘Detectives from EMSOU and Northamptonshire Police are working around the clock to establish the circumstances behind her death, including the exact location and timeframe in which it took place.’
The force said officers were satisfied there was no wider risk to the public as a result of this incident, but said extra patrols will be taking place in Corby in the coming days ‘for reassurance purposes’.
Anyone with any concerns is welcome to approach one of these officers who will be happy to help, Northamptonshire Police added.
And DCI Campbell appealed to anyone who may have information about this incident to come forward.
He added: ‘We would appeal to anyone who knew her to contact us with any relevant information they may have.
‘If you saw anything suspicious in the past week or have any information, no matter how small, please contact us. We would always rather receive well-meaning information that turns out to be nothing as opposed to not receiving it all.’
Anyone who may have information that could assist police inquiries is asked to contact police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
