Round 12.45 pm on Tuesday, a crowd stood exterior a two-storey home in Palam Colony’s Sadh Nagar, watching as an ambulance wound by the lane and got here to a halt. A picket coffin was fastidiously unloaded from the car by seven folks and carried to the verandah, the place ladies held one another, crying. The physique of Harshita Brella was then lifted out and positioned on a picket ladder.
Supported by her sisters and family, Harshita’s mom Sudesh Kumari was the primary to take a look at her daughter. Caressing her face, she sobbed: “Mere jigar ka tukda, meri Sweety,” (A bit of my coronary heart, my Sweety). Harshita was fondly known as Sweety by her household.
Seeing her youthful sister, a grief-stricken Sonia Dabas stated, “She was so harmless and childlike, she didn’t struggle with anybody.”
On November 14, Harshita, 24, was discovered useless within the boot of her husband’s automobile at Brisbane Street in East London. A autopsy examination at Leicester Royal Infirmary on November 15 listed strangulation because the preliminary explanation for dying. Northamptonshire Police, which is investigating the case, named her husband, Pankaj Lamba, the prime suspect. They declare he fled the nation. The UK Police didn’t reply to an e-mail or queries despatched by The Indian Specific.
One of many needs of the Brella household — to convey their daughter’s physique again house — was fulfilled on Tuesday. When The Indian Specific met them on November 21, they stated they needed to cremate her on Indian soil. The household contacted their acquaintances in London and, with assist from an company, introduced her again. On Saturday evening, her physique was flown in from London and preserved at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital’s mortuary.
Harshita and Pankaj had a court docket marriage in August 2023 to start out her visa proceedings. He went to the UK in October 2023, whereas she stayed again. On March 22 this 12 months, they’d a marriage in New Delhi and the couple left for London on April 30. It was quickly after that, her household stated, that hassle began — in August, Harshita filed a home violence criticism towards her husband. The household additionally came upon he lied about his job. Additionally they suspect her in-laws have been concerned in her homicide.
“A married girl’s remaining rites are carried out at her in-laws’ home, however they haven’t reached out or come right here even as soon as. If they’re harmless and haven’t carried out something, what are they petrified of?” questioned Sonia angrily.
“Every part of my sister’s is at her in-laws’ home — her jewelry and garments. We didn’t maintain something with us,” she added.
As rituals for her sister’s remaining journey started and family began masking the physique with a crimson chunni, Sonia objected. “Why are we even doing this and for who? That man killed her and we do not make her put on something of that (marriage) significance.”
She stood agency and didn’t permit the chooda (crimson bangles) to be placed on her sister.
Simply because the physique was taken to a cremation floor close by, Sonia broke down. “I need to go together with her,” she cried. Her family consoled her, saying her mom wanted her assist now.
Half an hour later, the male family members returned. Satbir, Harshita’s father, had cried all through the rituals however was decided to struggle for justice. “We hope the police right here assist us… her in-laws took a lot dowry from us. I’ve given a written criticism to the Palam police station. I additionally hope the UK authorities and police catch maintain of him (Pankaj) quick,” Satbir stated.
Sonia, in the meantime, remembered how Harshita would tie a rakhi for her each Raksha Bandhan. “We by no means missed not having a brother. We have been sufficient for one another. I used to be the vocal one, who would struggle for her. I at all times protected her. I want I may’ve carried out one thing this time… she would’ve been alive at present.”
“I consider her, coming in my desires and telling me issues,” stated Sonia.
“Even when it’s a dream, can she come again to me?”
