Family of Murdered Indian Woman Demand Justice One Year After Tragic Death

Mon Nov 10 2025 02:39:32 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A year after Harshita Brella's murder in the UK, her family expresses deep frustration over the lack of progress in the investigation and calls for justice.

In a poignant plea for justice, Harshita Brella's family reflects on the year since her tragic murder in the UK. Despite being charged with murder and other offenses, her husband, Pankaj Lamba, remains at large in India. Frustrated with the pace of the investigation, the family questions the failure of both UK and Indian authorities to bring Harshita's killer to justice, highlighting the challenges faced by foreign nationals in seeking justice abroad.

Family of Murdered Indian Woman Demand Justice One Year After Tragic Death

One year since Harshita Brella was strangled to death in the UK, there is a palpable sense of disbelief in her family home in New Delhi, India.

Harshita's mother, Sudesh Kumari, sobs as she voices her anguish, Why has her killer not been caught yet? Neither the UK government nor the Indian government are doing anything. I want justice for my daughter. Only then will I find peace.

Harshita's body was discovered in the boot of a car in Ilford, east London, on November 14, 2024, a day after her family reported her missing. Authorities believe she was murdered on the same day by her husband, Pankaj Lamba, who has since fled to India and is still at large.

Harshita, 24, and her husband, Pankaj, both Indian nationals, had relocated to the UK from Delhi earlier that year. In March 2025, he was charged with murder along with additional charges of rape and coercive behavior.

Harshita's sister, Sonia Dabas, expressed distress over the investigation's progress, stating, We are very disappointed with the UK police. They are sending out a message that foreign nationals are not safe in the UK.

Just months prior to her murder, Harshita had filed a domestic abuse case against Pankaj after which authorities released him on bail despite conditions to avoid contacting her. Sonia accuses the police of negligence, asserting that this contributed to Harshita's murder.

Notably, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is reviewing the actions of four officers from Northamptonshire Police regarding their failures in handling Harshita's domestic abuse report.

Despite the gravity of the situation, the family feels that law enforcement's response has been slow and ineffective. Sonia alleges that Pankaj is being protected by corrupt officials in India and cites sightings of him earlier this year.

In the midst of their grief, Harshita's family actively seeks justice. Her father, Satbir Singh Brella, shares the emotional toll of continuous visits to police stations and courts, reaffirming their determination to find closure.

As they remember Harshita, her family reflects on her warmth and kindness, finding little solace in the tight-fitting shoes she left behind, which her mother has taken to wearing as a testament to her love.