"it is absolutely tragic that her life has been cut short"
A murder investigation is underway after a woman was found dead in the boot of a car in Ilford, London, with police claiming she was attacked by “someone known to her”.
Harshita Brella was reported missing on November 13, 2024, after Northampton Police conducted a welfare check at her home in Skegness Walk, Corby, and got no answer.
A day later, her body was tragically found in the boot of a car 100 miles away on Brisbane Road.
A postmortem confirmed that Harshita had been murdered.
No arrests have been made but police believe Harshita was attacked by “someone known to her”, although they are keeping an “open mind”.
According to police, the incident is an isolated one.
Northamptonshire Police has also referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) due to previous contact they had with her.
Forensic officers spent hours at the scene of the car and only just removed a tent.
Police have also been asking locals whether they had seen any suspicious activity in the area.
One shop worker said police spent hours in the street and had asked locals for CCTV.
He said: “Our shop CCTV hasn’t shown anything.
“They asked if I’d seen or heard anything. They seemed very concerned.”
One of Harshita Brella’s neighbours said the house the victim lived in had been used as an HMO (house in multiple occupation), and at one point in 2023 had 12 people living in it, although it is not currently on the council’s HMO register.
The neighbour believed the house had Bulgarian, Moldovan and Portuguese residents and had been largely peaceful since some noise complaints were resolved last year.
But earlier this week, she heard a commotion:
“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.”
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Johnny Campbell from the East Midlands Special Operations Major Crime Unit (EMSOU), said:
“First of all, 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.”
DCI Campbell has appealed for those who may have information about the incident to come forward.
He added: “Although we believe Harshita was attacked by someone known to her, we are keeping an open mind, and would appeal to anyone who knew her to contact us with any relevant information they may have.
“If you saw anything suspicious in the past week or have any information, no matter how small, please contact us.
“We would always rather receive well-meaning information that turns out to be nothing as opposed to not receiving it all.”
An international manhunt has now been launched as police search for Pankaj Lamba, Harshita Brella’s husband.
Police suspect Lamba murdered the 24-year-old earlier in November 2024 and transported her body by car to Ilford.
He is then said to have fled the country.
Chief Inspector Paul Cash, of Northamptonshire Police, said:
“Our 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 are of course continuing to appeal for any information that will help us piece together exactly what happened as we work to get justice for Harshita.
“I urge anyone listening to or reading this statement, that if you saw anything suspicious in the past week or have any information, no matter how small, please contact us.
“We would always rather receive well-meaning information that turns out to be nothing as opposed to not receiving it all.”
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