The mother of Harshita Bella has said she wants “justice” for her daughter after she was found dead in the boot of a car in east London.
Pankaj Lamba is suspected of murdering his wife Ms Brella, from Corby in Northamptonshire, before dumping her body in the vehicle in Brisbane Road, Ilford.
An international manhunt is underway for Lamba, who has been named as the prime suspect in the murder of the 24-year-old. Detectives believe he has fled the country.
Speaking to the BBC from the family home in Delhi, Ms Brella’s mother Sudesh Kumari said: “I Just want justice for my daughter.”
Ms Brella’s father, Satbir Brella, told the broadcaster: “I want my son-in-law to be brought to justice and I want my daughter's body brought home.”
He said that his daughter had aspired to be a teacher and would spend her days tutoring children in their home in Delhi.
Ms Brella’s sister, Sonia Dabas, said she had been “very excited” to move to the UK in April after an arranged marriage with Lamba.
A legal wedding was held in August 2023, and the couple held their traditional Indian ceremony on March before leaving for the UK the following month.
The family last spoke with Ms Brella on the phone on November 10, the BBC reported.
Ms Dabas said they “thought something was wrong” after her sister’s phone was off for two days and asked people they knew to file a complaint on November 13.
The force was contacted on Wednesday by a member of the public concerned for her welfare.
Officers went to her home in Skegness Walk, Corby, but got no answer.
A missing person investigation was then launched, but her body was found in the boot of a car early on Thursday.
A post-mortem examination established that she had been murdered.
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.
Chief Inspector Paul Cash said more than 60 detectives are working on the case and are following “numerous lines of inquiry”, including carrying house-to-house visits, searching properties, and searching CCTV and ANPR.
“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,” he added.
“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.
“Harshita was a young woman in her early 20s, with her whole life ahead of her and everything to live for, and it is absolutely tragic that her life has been cut short in this way,” he said.
