Family ask why killer has not been caught 12 months on

A year after Harshita Prila was strangled to death in the UK, there is a feeling of disbelief at her family home in the Indian capital, Delhi.

“Why has her killer not been arrested yet? Neither the UK government nor the Indian government is doing anything,” Harshita’s mother, Sudesh Kumari, said through tears. “I want justice for my daughter. Only then will I find peace.”

Harshita’s body was found in the boot of a car in Ilford, east London, on 14 November 2024, a day after her family contacted UK police to say they had not heard from her since 10 November.

Police believe Harshita, 24, was murdered that day in Corby, Northamptonshire, by her husband Pankaj Lamba, who fled to India shortly after the killing and is still on the run.

The couple, both Indian citizens, had moved from Delhi to the UK, settling in Corby, earlier that year.

In March this year, police in Northamptonshire charged him with murder. He also faces charges of rape, sexual assault and controlling or coercive behavior.

Sonia Dabas, Harshita’s sister, is frustrated with the pace of the investigations.

She told the BBC: “We are very disappointed with the UK police. Maybe because we are not UK citizens, that’s why they are not serious about this case. They are sending a message that foreign nationals are not safe in the UK.”

Almost two months before Harshita’s murder, on September 3, she had filed a domestic violence case against her husband. He was arrested and later released on bail on the condition that he does not harass, harass or intimidate Harshita.

The Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO) expired four weeks later, on October 1.

Sonia accuses Northamptonshire Police of negligence in pursuing the domestic violence case. “It was then that Pankaj discovered that the UK police were not really serious about the case and felt he could get away with murder,” she says.

Four Northamptonshire Police officers are being investigated over their handling of, and interaction with, Harshita’s domestic abuse report by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

The IOPC told the BBC this week that its investigations had been completed and had been shared with Northamptonshire Police. Northamptonshire Police says it has been given until mid-November to respond to the IOPC findings.

Northamptonshire Police said: “This is an exceptionally complex case and with criminal proceedings now commencing in the UK, we are unable to go into detail about the investigation at this time. However, we can confirm that the Indian authorities have been informed through the appropriate channels of the charging decision.”

The Indian government told the BBC that it was in contact with the UK government on the matter, but neither side responded clearly about whether an extradition notice for Pankaj Lamba had been sent to the Indian authorities.

Harshita’s family also told the BBC that they believe Pankaj Lamba is in India and being protected by Indian police.

“He has relatives who are policemen,” says Sonia. “In March this year, he was seen on CCTV footage withdrawing money from a bank. How has he not been found yet? It’s all because of corruption.” The family also says they have information that in the early months of this year, Pankaj was running a shop in Gurgaon, not far from where they live.

“they [the Delhi Police] “They’re just killing time,” says Sonia.

Delhi Police did not respond to Sonia’s accusations. They told the BBC they acted on the basis of a dowry complaint lodged by Harshita’s parents against Mr Lamba and his family members, including his parents and sister, who were arrested and are now out on bail.

Delhi Police also says it issued public notices earlier this year offering a reward for information on Mr Lamba, and a search for him is still ongoing.

Pankaj Lamba’s family home is in the village of Dharauli, about 40 miles (65 km) north of Delhi, not far from Gurgaon where Ms Prela’s family believe he was seen in March. His parents, Sudesh and Darshan Lamba, did not want to be interviewed when the BBC visited him.

But they rejected all charges against them and their son. They claim they have not had any contact with him since November 10, 2024 – the same day Harshita’s family last contacted them.

For Harshita’s father, Satbir Singh Prela, days are filled with visits to police stations and courts.

“My daughter was very honest and kind-hearted. Something really terrible had happened to her,” he says.

Her mother points to the shoes she is wearing. It belonged to Harshita and was among her possessions from the UK returned to her family by officials who visited in July.

“It’s tight for me, but I feel close to it when I wear it,” says Sudesh Kumari. “Sometimes I feel like she’s still in the UK, and I can’t believe she’s gone.”

Additional reporting: Aakriti Thapar, Adnan Bhatt, Sanjay Ganguly