TOI Correspondent from London: An international manhunt has been launched for an Indian-origin man accused of murdering his Indian wife and leaving her dead body inside the boot of a car in London before fleeing Britain.
On Sunday, Northamptonshire police named Pankaj Lamba (23) as the prime suspect in the murder of his 24-year-old wife, Harshita Brella.
The couple were married at a Hindu ceremony in Delhi a few months ago. The “Daily Mail” published on Monday a video of their wedding ceremony in Delhi. But the couple had been living in separate houses in Corby.
She had been living in Corby, Northamptonshire, when her body was discovered inside the boot of a car in Ilford, East London, in the early hours of November 14. A murder investigation was then launched.
Neighbours said they had heard shouting, banging and furniture being thrown last Wednesday at the house of multiple occupation where Brella lived, and that “a woman sounded scared”. Police visited Brella’s residence on Wednesday after concerns were raised. When she was not found, police made inquiries which led to the discovery of her body inside the boot of an abandoned car near a park 150km away. A forensic post-mortem examination established that Brella was murdered.
Brella was the subject of a domestic violence order on September 3 seeking to protect her from Lamba. The order was made at Northampton magistrates’ court. It prevented Lamba from molesting her, threatening violence, or intimidating, harassing or pestering her, and he was not allowed to enter her workplace.
In a statement on Sunday, Northamptonshire police said: “Our inquiries led us to suspect that Harshita was murdered in Northamptonshire earlier this month by her husband Pankaj Lamba. We suspect Lamba transported the body to Ilford by car. We believe he has now fled the country.” More than 60 detectives are working on the case which has now become an international manhunt.
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