‘I love to fight with my sister, but I don’t like this fight’ says sister of murdered Corby warehouse worker Harshita

She’s 4,000 miles from home, remembering fondly back when they were children.

Back home in Dehli, the two sisters loved to play fight – but Sonia admits she isn’t enjoying the struggle in the UK to find Harshita’s killer and get him behind bars.

Speaking after a gruelling week of back-to-back meetings with the UK authorities including Harshita’s MP Lee Barron, Northamptonshire Police, and Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone, Sonia is drained but still determined.

She said: “I loved to fight with my sister, but I don’t like this fight, seriously. I love to fight with her, now I’m fighting for her. It’s a tragedy. I always say we’re like two bodies with one soul. I can’t live with this burden without justice.”

Twenty-four-year-old Harshita’s body was discovered dumped in a car boot – her husband, Pankaj Lamba, had fled to India and remains on the run a year-and a-half later.

In March 2025 the Crown Prosecution Service charged him with her murder. He was also charged with rape and controlling or coercive behaviour.

Efforts to trace Lamba have failed but in a meeting with Northamptonshire Police, Detective Superintendent Johnny Campbell ‘reassured’ the family of their ‘absolute commitment to secure justice for Harshita’.

Also in the meeting was Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone who expressed her ‘heartfelt sorrow’ to the family.

She said: “I know that Northamptonshire Police is committed to achieving justice for Harshita.”

Thanking Harshita’s family for their dignity and patience, in a statement Det Supt Campbell said: “This has been and remains an exceptionally complex case and we are continuing to work with the appropriate agencies in both the UK and internationally.

“During the meeting, I was able to update the family on the live criminal proceedings, answer the questions they had, and reassure them of our absolute commitment to secure justice for Harshita.”

But Sonia doesn’t feel she’s got any further and she feels the police are not looking for Lamba.

She said: “They haven’t shared any new information, no new updates. They say trust us, don’t worry about it – I have no option.”

A misconduct meeting for two officers, in relation to police contact with Harshita before her murder in November 2024, took place as Sonia and her parents waited to speak to police. They had asked for access to the meeting but were not allowed to attend.

A spokesman for Northants Police said: “As a result of these internal disciplinary proceedings, it was determined that misconduct was not proved.

“The gross misconduct hearings for two detective constables will be held later this year.”

Sonia, 30, mum Sudesh Kumari and dad Satbir Singh are being supported in the UK by the Northamptonshire Rights and Equality Council (NREC).

NREC chief executive Anjona Roy said: “All victims of crime and their families deserve to be treated with car consideration and respect. Murder victims’ families need careful support. Until a person is brought to justice everything is in limbo. They should have regular updates and a clear sense of what is being done on the path to obtaining justice.

“Unfortunately regardless of the statements from Northamptonshire Police, key feelings of reassurance will only come through action and we need to see more of that.

“This case raises serious concerns about how domestic abuse cases are handled and highlights the risks faced by women, particularly those who may be isolated or new to the UK. Systems must do better to protect those at risk.”

A memorial event organised by Harshita’s family is being held in Corby on Saturday, May 23, from 3.30pm to 4.30pm at the Hazelwood Community Centre in Corby. People are being asked to pay their respects to Harshita at the Gainsborough Road venue, with everyone welcome.

Sonia added: “If we get justice for Harshita we will save many lives for people in the UK. We need to be a positive example not like Pankaj who is a negative example. I’m here fighting for the positivity.

“It will be a big achievement to see Pankaj behind bars. I desperately want that.”