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Harshita Brella husband was arrested before - IOPC

Family handout A woman in a yellow and white trimmed traditional Indian saree holds her phone in her left hand standing by a wooden doorway.Family handout
Harshita Brella was the subject of a Domestic Violence Protection Order in the months before her death

The husband of Harshita Brella was arrested by police in September after she made a report of domestic abuse, a police watchdog has confirmed.

An international manhunt has been launched for Pankaj Lamba after Ms Brella's body was found in the boot of a car in Ilford, east London, on 14 November.

Police believe Ms Brella, 24, was fatally strangled in Corby, Northamptonshire, on 10 November and have named Mr Lamba, 23, as the prime suspect in the investigation.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it was investigating Northamptonshire Police after Ms Brella made a report of domestic abuse in August.

Mr Lamba was arrested on 3 September and released with bail conditions and a domestic violence protection notice, the IOPC added.

Northamptonshire Police A police picture of Pankaj Lamba, who has short, black hair and a beard. He is wearing a grey t-shirt.Northamptonshire Police
An international manhunt is under way for Pankaj Lamba

IOPC regional director Derrick Campbell said its investigation followed a self-referral from the police force.

"We will be examining the police response to Ms Brella's report of domestic abuse made at the end of August this year," he said.

"We will look into further contact Northamptonshire Police had with Ms Brella concerning the case."

Mr Campbell said the investigation would consider the actions and decisions taken by Northamptonshire Police in relation to its dealings with Ms Brella.

He added: "We will be contacting Ms Brella's family to explain our role and express our sincere condolences."

Northamptonshire Police A black and white CCTV image of Pankaj Lamba and Harshita Brella walking side by side. Mr Lamba is wearing a black coat and Ms Brella seems to be wearing a white coat, although the lighting in the image is overexposed. They are walking along a path that has leaves scattered across it.Northamptonshire Police
A CCTV image released by police showed Ms Brella and Mr Lamba at Corby's boating lake on 10 November

Detectives investigating the killing released a CCTV image of Ms Brella and Mr Lamba on Friday.

A photo showed the pair walking together near the Corby's boating lake on Sunday, 10 November.

Police appealed for anyone who was in the Cottingham Road area that evening to contact them.

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