The grieving family of Harshita Brella, a 24-year-old Indian national whose lifeless body was discovered in a car boot in east London, has publicly criticized law enforcement for their perceived inaction in safeguarding her despite her prior reports of domestic abuse against her husband just weeks before her tragic death.
Brella’s lifeless body was found last Thursday in Ilford, raising alarm among the community. Authorities have identified her husband, Pankaj Lamba, as the primary suspect in her suspected murder and believe he may have fled the UK to evade capture.
An autopsy revealed that Brella’s cause of death was strangulation, amplifying the urgency of the investigation. Following this revelation, Northamptonshire police released images of a silver Vauxhall Corsa linked to Lamba, appealing to the public for any relevant information, regardless of its significance.
Brella originally hails from Delhi and had recently relocated to the UK in April, shortly after an arranged marriage to Lamba in August 2023.
In a poignant interview from the family home in Delhi, her elder sister Sonia Dabas expressed her disillusionment with the police, stating, “I believe the police did not do enough to help her or protect my sister.” Dabas described Brella as an innocent and kind-hearted individual who felt increasingly isolated by the police’s handling of her domestic abuse report, ultimately driving her back to her husband.
Dabas shared troubling details about Brella’s rocky marriage, which she claimed was fraught with difficulties upon Brella’s arrival in the UK. The arranged marriage meant Brella had only spent a brief three days getting to know Lamba before moving in with him.
As the months progressed, according to Dabas, the domestic abuse persisted to such an extent that on 28 August, Brella escaped their shared home in Corby during the early morning hours, seeking refuge and assistance from a colleague.
After fleeing, she reportedly approached the police the next day and filed charges against Lamba, citing instances of domestic abuse and mental torment.
While the police temporarily placed Brella in a hotel and then a protective facility, Dabas noted that her sister was left alone in a dismal environment without proper support or counseling. Tragically, during this vulnerable time, Brella suffered a miscarriage.
“It was dark and empty in the place they put her and she was so scared that she would call me even when she was going to the bathroom,” said Dabas. “She told me that she felt like police were treating her like the criminal even though she was the victim.”
In a statement, a spokesperson for Northamptonshire police acknowledged the case’s tragic nature, stating that it would be subjected to a thorough domestic homicide review to examine all police actions related to the case; however, they refrained from further comments at this time.
Knowing her vulnerability, the family voiced concern that Brella, feeling completely isolated after filing her case, ultimately reestablished contact with Lamba, albeit while still residing separately. On the last day they spoke, the Sunday prior to her body being found, Brella mentioned that she was preparing dinner for Lamba. “She was in good spirits when she called me, she seemed happy and said that Pankaj was coming over for dinner,” Dabas remarked.
However, by Wednesday, as the family could not reach Brella, they first sought to contact Lamba and later alerted the police, filing a missing person report. Tragically, on Friday morning, Satbir Brella received a call from the police in Delhi, informing him that they had discovered a body they believed to be Harshita’s but provided scant details. He later learned that she had been found crammed into a suitcase in the boot of a car in London, nearly 100 miles from her residence in Northamptonshire.
Dabas, who described her sister as a “gentle soul who would not even hurt insects”, expressed the family’s enduring commitment to seek justice and accountability from UK authorities. “This is not just Harshita’s murder, it is the murder of me and my mother and my father. We are nothing without her,” she declared with deep sadness.
For Satbir Brella, the overwhelming priority remains bringing his daughter’s body home to conduct the traditional funeral rites essential for his family’s closure. Regrettably, neither Northamptonshire police nor the Indian embassy has offered assistance regarding the repatriation process.
“It is terrible for us that she is alone over there,” he lamented. “We are in so much pain knowing we do not even have her body to perform our rituals and bring her peace. All we want is to have her back with us.”
How can awareness be raised in communities to ensure that potential victims feel safe reaching out for help?
**Interview with Sonia Dabas, sister of Harshita Brella**
**Editor:** Thank you, Sonia, for joining us during this difficult time. First and foremost, our hearts go out to you and your family for your loss. Can you share with us what you have been feeling since hearing the news of Harshita’s tragic death?
**Sonia Dabas:** Thank you for your kind words. It’s incredibly painful. We are devastated beyond words. Losing Harshita like this is a nightmare, and we can’t fathom how something so horrible could happen to such an innocent person.
**Editor:** You mentioned earlier that Harshita had reported instances of domestic abuse to the police prior to her death. Can you tell us more about what led her to seek help?
**Sonia Dabas:** Harshita’s marriage was tough from the very start. She only knew Pankaj for three days before marrying him. Once she arrived in the UK, things turned very distressing. On August 28, she fled their home seeking safety and support from a colleague. The next day, she bravely went to the police and reported the abuse.
**Editor:** It’s heartbreaking to hear that she still faced challenges even after reaching out for help. What was the support system like for her after she filed her complaint?
**Sonia Dabas:** The police put her in a hotel and later a protective facility, but it was not comfortable or safe. Harshita often felt alone and isolated. She even had a miscarriage during this vulnerable time, and she said it felt like she was being treated as a criminal rather than a victim.
**Editor:** What kind of support do you believe could have helped Harshita during this time?
**Sonia Dabas:** She needed more than just a place to stay; she required proper counseling and support services. She was terrified, and she needed emotional support to navigate her situation. Instead, she felt abandoned and isolated, which ultimately led her to contact Pankaj again.
**Editor:** It sounds like you feel that law enforcement could have done more to protect your sister. Can you elaborate on your thoughts on the police’s response?
**Sonia Dabas:** Absolutely. I believe the police did not act adequately to help her. They should have taken her reports seriously and ensured she had the necessary protection. Instead, they left her feeling vulnerable, which contributed to her tragic fate.
**Editor:** Following Harshita’s death, what steps would you like to see law enforcement take to prevent similar tragedies in the future?
**Sonia Dabas:** I want to see a thorough investigation into how Harshita’s case was handled. They need to implement more robust procedures for dealing with domestic violence reports and ensure proper support systems are in place for victims. They should treat victims with compassion and understanding, not let them feel alone.
**Editor:** Thank you for sharing your story, Sonia. It’s a tragic situation, and we hope that better measures can be put in place to protect those who are suffering. Our thoughts are with you and your family during this time.
**Sonia Dabas:** Thank you for giving us a voice. It’s crucial for people to understand how critical it is to support victims of domestic violence before it’s too late.
