Household ask why killer has not been caught 12 months on

[ad_1] Yogita Limaye South Asia and Afghanistan correspondent

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/78b7/live/8eb1c8a0-bbc6-11f0-b6c2-7f3ceed9a880.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/78b7/live/8eb1c8a0-bbc6-11f0-b6c2-7f3ceed9a880.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/78b7/live/8eb1c8a0-bbc6-11f0-b6c2-7f3ceed9a880.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/78b7/live/8eb1c8a0-bbc6-11f0-b6c2-7f3ceed9a880.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/78b7/live/8eb1c8a0-bbc6-11f0-b6c2-7f3ceed9a880.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/78b7/live/8eb1c8a0-bbc6-11f0-b6c2-7f3ceed9a880.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/78b7/live/8eb1c8a0-bbc6-11f0-b6c2-7f3ceed9a880.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/78b7/live/8eb1c8a0-bbc6-11f0-b6c2-7f3ceed9a880.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Family handout Harshita Brella looks into the camera for a selfie while standing outside a building. Her hair is open, and she is wearing bright red lipstick and pearl drop earrings." class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Household handout Harshita Brella's physique was found within the boot of a automotive in London on 14 November final yr

One yr since Harshita Brella was strangled to loss of life within the UK, there's a sense of disbelief in her household dwelling within the Indian capital Delhi.

"Why has her killer not been caught but? Neither the UK authorities nor the Indian authorities are doing something," Harshita's mom Sudesh Kumari says, sobbing into her scarf. "I would like justice for my daughter. Solely then will I discover peace."

Harshita's physique was discovered within the boot of a automotive in Ilford, east London, on 14 November 2024, a day after her household contacted UK police to say they'd not heard from her since 10 November.

Police consider Harshita, 24, was murdered on that day in Corby, Northamptonshire, by her husband Pankaj Lamba, who fled to India quickly after the killing and continues to be on the run.

The couple, each Indian nationals, had moved from Delhi to the UK, settling in Corby, earlier that yr.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/57eb/live/7b255bd0-bbc6-11f0-8669-5560f5c90fbe.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/57eb/live/7b255bd0-bbc6-11f0-8669-5560f5c90fbe.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/57eb/live/7b255bd0-bbc6-11f0-8669-5560f5c90fbe.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/57eb/live/7b255bd0-bbc6-11f0-8669-5560f5c90fbe.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/57eb/live/7b255bd0-bbc6-11f0-8669-5560f5c90fbe.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/57eb/live/7b255bd0-bbc6-11f0-8669-5560f5c90fbe.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/57eb/live/7b255bd0-bbc6-11f0-8669-5560f5c90fbe.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/57eb/live/7b255bd0-bbc6-11f0-8669-5560f5c90fbe.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Northamptonshire Police A CCTV picture of the murder suspect Pankaj Lamba wearing a green jacket, a backpack, pale trousers and top. He has a beard and black hair" class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Northamptonshire Police A CCTV image of the homicide suspect Pankaj Lamba

In March this yr, police in Northamptonshire charged him with homicide. He additionally faces costs of rape, sexual assault and controlling or coercive behaviour.

Harshita's sister Sonia Dabas is pissed off with the tempo of investigations.

"We're very dissatisfied with the UK police. Possibly as a result of we aren't residents of the UK, that is why they don't seem to be critical about this case. They're sending out a message that overseas nationals will not be secure within the UK," she advised the BBC.

Roughly two months earlier than Harshita was killed, on 3 September, she had filed a case of home abuse towards her husband. He was arrested and later launched on bail given that he didn't harass, pester or intimidate Harshita.

The Home Violence Safety Order (DVPO) expired 4 weeks later, on 1 October.

Sonia accuses Northamptonshire Police of being negligent in following up on the home abuse case. "That is when Pankaj discovered that the UK police will not be actually critical about this case and he felt he may get away with homicide," she says.

4 officers of the Northamptonshire Police are being investigated over their dealing with of Harshita's home abuse report and their interplay together with her, by the Unbiased Workplace for Police Conduct (IOPC).

The IOPC advised the BBC this week that their investigation was full and had been shared with Northamptonshire Police. Northamptonshire Police say they've been given till mid-November to reply to the IOPC's findings.

Northamptonshire Police mentioned: "That is an exceptionally advanced case and with felony proceedings now lively within the UK, we're unable to enter element in regards to the investigation right now. Nonetheless, we will affirm that the Indian authorities have been made conscious by way of the suitable channels of the charging determination."

The Indian authorities has advised the BBC they're in contact with the UK authorities on the matter, however neither aspect answered clearly about whether or not an extradition discover for Pankaj Lamba had been forwarded to the Indian authorities.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/ec05/live/459ad8a0-bbc6-11f0-b6c2-7f3ceed9a880.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/ec05/live/459ad8a0-bbc6-11f0-b6c2-7f3ceed9a880.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/ec05/live/459ad8a0-bbc6-11f0-b6c2-7f3ceed9a880.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/ec05/live/459ad8a0-bbc6-11f0-b6c2-7f3ceed9a880.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/ec05/live/459ad8a0-bbc6-11f0-b6c2-7f3ceed9a880.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/ec05/live/459ad8a0-bbc6-11f0-b6c2-7f3ceed9a880.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/ec05/live/459ad8a0-bbc6-11f0-b6c2-7f3ceed9a880.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/ec05/live/459ad8a0-bbc6-11f0-b6c2-7f3ceed9a880.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Letter Harshita wrote about the abuse she suffered - in list form, stating - sexually abused, verbally abused, physically abused, mentally abuse, socially abused, threat - kill you. Even I to go India then he will kill me. Financially abused - he handled all my accounts and controlled my all money, pressured me for overtime work" class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Ms Brella detailed the alleged abuse she suffered by the hands of her husband in a letter

Harshita's household additionally advised the BBC that they consider Pankaj Lamba is in India, being shielded by Indian police.

"He has kinfolk who're policemen. In March this yr, he was seen on CCTV footage withdrawing cash from a financial institution. Then how come he isn't been discovered but? That is all due to corruption," says Sonia. The household additionally says they've info that within the early months of this yr, Pankaj was operating a store in Gurgaon, not removed from the place they dwell.

"They [the Delhi Police] are simply killing time," Sonia says.

The Delhi Police didn't reply to Sonia's accusations. They advised the BBC that they've acted on the idea of a dowry criticism filed by Harshita's dad and mom towards Mr Lamba and members of his household, together with his dad and mom and sister, who have been arrested and are actually out on bail.

The Delhi Police additionally say they issued public notices earlier this yr providing a reward for details about Mr Lamba, and the seek for him continues to be below approach.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/a4e2/live/cd0286b0-bbcd-11f0-8456-eff94716b162.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/a4e2/live/cd0286b0-bbcd-11f0-8456-eff94716b162.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a4e2/live/cd0286b0-bbcd-11f0-8456-eff94716b162.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/a4e2/live/cd0286b0-bbcd-11f0-8456-eff94716b162.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/a4e2/live/cd0286b0-bbcd-11f0-8456-eff94716b162.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/a4e2/live/cd0286b0-bbcd-11f0-8456-eff94716b162.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/a4e2/live/cd0286b0-bbcd-11f0-8456-eff94716b162.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a4e2/live/cd0286b0-bbcd-11f0-8456-eff94716b162.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Harshita Brella's mother Sudesh Kumari looks into the camera. She is wearing a white printed scarf on her head and a blue kurta. " class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Harshita's mom Sudesh Kumari says she nonetheless can't consider her daughter is gone

Pankaj Lamba's household house is within the village of Dharauli, about 40 miles (65km) north of Delhi, and never removed from Gurgaon the place Ms Brella's household consider he was sighted in March. His dad and mom Sudesh and Darshan Lamba did not wish to be interviewed when the BBC visited.

However they rejected all the costs towards them and their son. They declare they haven't had any contact with him since 10 November 2024 – the identical day that Harshita's household final had contact together with her.

For Harshita's father, Satbir Singh Brella, the times are full of visits to police stations and courts.

"My daughter was so simple, and type hearted. A extremely horrible factor occurred to her," he says.

Her mom factors to the footwear she's sporting. They're Harshita's and have been amongst her possessions from the UK returned to her household by British officers who visited them in July.

"They're tight for me, however I really feel near her once I put on them," says Sudesh Kumari. "Typically I really feel she's nonetheless within the UK, I can't consider she is gone."