International manhunt launched for husband of woman found in car boot

The husband of a woman who was found dead in a car boot in east London is a prime suspect in the case and is believed to have fled the country, police said.

Harshita Brella, 24, was found dead near a park in London last Thursday after going missing from her home in Corby, Northamptonshire, the day before.

During a police press conference in Kettering this afternoon, Northamptonshire Police said her husband, Pankaj Lamba is wanted in connection with the killing and is no longer believed to be in the UK.

The update comes after it emerged that Mrs Brella was the subject of a Domestic Violence Protection Order.

In September, a court order had been put in place protecting her from being contacted by a man, whose name has not been released. 

The order, issued at Northampton Magistrates Court, lasted for 28 days and banned the man from visiting her workplace.

He was also 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.

The 24-year-old had vanished from her home nearly 100 miles away in Corby, Northamptonshire (Picture: Northamptonshire Police)

The force has referred itself to the police watchdog as it had previously had contact with Ms Brella.

Chief Inspector Paul Cash said: ‘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.’

DCI Johnny Campbell from the East Midlands Special Operations Major Crime Unit (EMSOU), said: ‘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.’

Searches are taking place at properties in Corby are taking place and more than 60 detectives are now working on the case.

Neighbours have meanwhile told reporters they heard an argument coming from inside Ms Brella’s house the night before she disappeared.

Speaking to the Mirror, Harshita’s neighbour Kelly Philp, 41, said she heard an ‘aggressive argument’ and a ‘scared’ woman’s voice coming from Harshita’s house the night before her disappearance.

Northamptonshire Police have named Harshita’s husband Pankaj Lamba as the prime suspect (Picture: PA)

The single mum, who shares a bedroom wall with a room in Harshita’s house, said:’I heard a commotion between a man and a woman and I heard banging around. They were arguing in a different language so I couldn’t understand what was being said. 

‘But it sounded angry and there were raised voices and the woman sounded scared. I had a funeral to attend the day after and had my own daughter to look after so I didn’t call police – I just thought it was a relationship argument.’

Police continue to guard outside the home of Harshita Brella, 24, in Corby, Northamptonshire (Picture: Roland Leon)

One local told MailOnline: ‘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. From what they said to me I bet it sounds like a man who knew her. They seemed to want to know about men in particular.’

Another told the publication: ‘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.’

Police have named Panjak Lamba as the prime suspect, who is believed to have fled the country (Picture: PA Wire)

Police investigations are underway in Corby and Ilford after the body of a 24-year-old woman was discovered in a car boot near Valentines Park in Ilford (Picture: UKNIP)

‘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 eye lid. There’s always drug dealing and attacks and all sorts.’ 

Meanwhile, a former neighbour of Harshita’s said she had lived in a shared accommodation which at one point last year had 12 people living in it.

The neighbour told the Northampton Chronicle: ‘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.’ 

Mystery continues to surround the circumstances behind Harshita Brella’s death (Picture: Roland Leon)

David Wilson