Corby 'murder' manhunt launched for husband who 'killed wife' found dead in Ilford car boot

An urgent manhunt is underway for a man who police believe killed his wife before leaving her body in a car boot in Ilford. Northamptonshire Police said Pankaj Lamba, the husband of of Harshita Brella, 24, is being sought in connection with her death but is thought to have fled the country.

A murder inquiry was launched after her body of the Corby woman was found inside the boot of a vehicle in Brisbane Road, Ilford, in the early hours of Thursday, November 14. A post-mortem examination established that she had been murdered - the specific cause of death has not been released.

The force was contacted on Wednesday by a member of the public concerned for her welfare. Police believe she was murdered at some point earlier this month.

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In a statement, 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 believe he has now fled the country.”

Police previously said she might have been the victim of a 'targeted incident'.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Johnny Campbell from the East Midlands Special Operations Major Crime Unit (EMSOU), yesterday 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."

Northamptonshire Police have also made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) because of previous contact between the force and Ms Brella. It gave no further details about the previous contact.

Chief Inspector Cash said: “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.”

He added: “Anyone who has any information that could help detectives bring Harshita’s killer to justice, can contact the incident room by calling 101, quoting incident number Operation Westcott.

“Alternatively information can be submitted via our online public portal at www.mipp.police.uk or please feel free to call Crimestoppers, in confidence, on 0800 555111.”

They can also submit information online at mipp.police.uk.

There is not believed to be any wider danger to the public.