The family of a woman who was killed and found dead in a car boot in Ilford are calling for justice as they want the body brought home to India.
Harshita Brella’s body was found dead inside the boot of a car parked in Brisbane Road in the early hours of last Thursday (November 14).
The 24-year-old was found after Northamptonshire Police was contacted last Wednesday (November 13) by a member of the public regarding the concern for the welfare of a woman in Corby, Northampton.
An international manhunt has since been launched to find Pankaj Lamba, Ms Brella’s husband, who has been named as the prime suspect in the investigation.
A manhunt is on for Pankaj Lamba (Image: Northamptonshire Police)
Ms Brella’s family spoke to the BBC from the family home in Dehli in a heartfelt interview.
Her sister Sonia Dabas revealed that Ms Brella moved to the UK in April this year, after an arranged marriage with Lamba in August 2023.
She said that she was “inseparable” with her sister and added: “I now feel like I can’t do anything in life without her.
“We used to chat all day. She had saved my name as ‘heartbeat’ on her phone. You can now understand what bond we shared.”
According to the report, Ms Brella last spoke to the family on November 10, four days before police discovered her body in Ilford.
Officers were deployed to her home address in Skegness Walk and there was no answer, which launched a missing person investigation.
Eventually enquiries led officers to the parked car in east London, where her body was found.
Pankaj Lamba is believed to have fled the country (Image: Northamptonshire Police)
It was reported that a 28-day domestic violence protection order was in force in September to protect the victim, which banned the perpetrator of the violence from visiting Ms Brella’s workplace.
The person was prevented from molesting her, from threatening violence, or intimidating, harassing or pestering her, and also told not to encourage or instruct others to contact her in any way.
Lamba was a student in London and Ms Brella reportedly “didn’t live a very happy life” in the capital, according to the family.
They told the BBC that Ms Brella wanted to be a teacher in India and during marital troubles, the family encouraged her to “quit and come to India”.
It is claimed she eventually ran away in August this year, before seeking a protection order from court.
Ms Dabas said: “She said he was hitting her and she escaped. She ran out on the streets, he chased after her and hit her there as well.”
Her father said that they want her body to be brought home to India so her soul can “get peace”.
Anyone who has any information that could help detectives bring Harshita’s killer to justice, is asked to call police on 101 quoting incident number 24000678713.
Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.