Tragic Murder of Harshita Brella: A Domestic Violence Case
Harshita Brella, a 24-year-old woman from Corby, Northamptonshire, was found murdered, with police believing her husband Pankaj Lamba is responsible for her death. A post-mortem examination revealed that she died by strangulation, and her body was discovered in a car boot in Ilford, east London.
Detectives suspect Brella was killed on the evening of 10 November, four days before her body was found. Her husband, 23-year-old Pankaj Lamba, is currently considered the prime suspect and is believed to have fled the country, with his whereabouts unknown.
The investigation began when police visited Brella’s home on Skegness Walk on 13 November after concerns were raised about her welfare. When she could not be located, a missing person investigation was launched, ultimately leading to the discovery of her body.
Northamptonshire Police have released CCTV images as part of their investigation, including photos of a silver Vauxhall Corsa believed to have been used by Lamba to transport Brella’s body to Ilford on the morning of 11 November. Detective Chief Inspector Johnny Campbell stated that they suspect Lamba placed Brella’s body in the vehicle’s boot before leaving Corby and subsequently abandoning the vehicle in Ilford.
The case has a history of domestic violence. Brella had previously been subject to a Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO) at Northampton Magistrates’ Court in September. Due to previous contact with the victim, Northamptonshire Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
Brella’s family became concerned when her phone was off for two days. Her sister, Sonia Dabas, noted that they “thought something was wrong” by 13 November. A neighbor reported hearing two intense arguments in the days before Brella’s body was discovered, with one involving a woman who “sounded scared.”
Brella’s father, Satbir Brella, expressed his desire for justice, stating, “I want my son-in-law to be brought to justice and I want my daughter’s body brought home.”
Detective Chief Inspector Campbell has urged anyone with information about Lamba’s whereabouts or suspicious activities in Corby, Ilford, or elsewhere to contact the police. He emphasized that even small pieces of information could be crucial to the investigation.
An inquest into Brella’s death is scheduled to be opened on Wednesday morning in Northampton.
The case highlights the ongoing issues of domestic violence and the challenges in protecting vulnerable individuals from potential harm within their own homes.
