Residents in Corby concerned as manhunt continues

It follows the murder of Harshita Brella from the town as police search for husband Pankaj Lamba.

Author: Andrea FoxPublished 19th Nov 2024

People living on a Corby street say they're worried as an international manhunt continues for the husband of a woman believed to have been murdered.

Police are still trying to locate Pankaj Lamba following the discovery of 24 year old Harshita Brella.

An international manhunt is under way for the husband of Ms Brella, of Corby, after Northamptonshire Police named Pankaj Lamba as the prime suspect in the murder of the 24-year-old.

A murder inquiry was launched after Ms Brella's body was found inside the boot of a vehicle on Brisbane Road in Ilford, east London, close to an entrance to Valentines Park in the early hours of Thursday.

Harshita Brella

Ryan Morgan lives close by on Skegness Walk:

"It's quite quiet around here usually. It's quite worrying because I have a 2 year old and 4 year old, so now we know something has happened like that, so close, it's quite worrying."

Another neighboured called Heidi said the death of Harshita left her 'stunned'.

"It was a shock that someone had been killed so close, and that it took a while before anyone noticed she'd gone, I was a bit stunned I'd say."

Another neighbour has said she heard two blistering rows, one involving a woman who "sounded scared", in the days before Ms Brella's body was discovered.

Northamptonshire Police Chief Inspector Paul Cash told a press conference in Kettering: "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."

Pankaj Lamba

Earlier, a police spokesman confirmed Ms Brella had previously been the victim of domestic violence and in early September was made subject of a Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO) at Northampton Magistrates' Court.

Northamptonshire Police have made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) because of previous contact between the force and Ms Brella.

Anyone who may have information is asked to call police on 101 quoting Operation Westcott or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

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