'She was more than a victim': Campaign remembers Harshita Brella
Charity to celebrate Harshita’s life beyond the murder case that brought her name to national attention
Last updated 19th Aug 2026
She was a daughter, a sister, a friend and a woman with hopes, ambitions and plans for the future. Now, those who knew Harshita Brella best are sharing her story in the hope she will be remembered for the life she lived, not just the way it ended.
Northamptonshire Rights and Equality Council (NREC) has launched #WalkWithHarshita, a social media campaign that will share Harshita's story and trace her journey from the moment she first sought help to her final days.
The campaign aims to ensure Harshita is remembered as more than a victim, highlighting her life, ambitions and personality through photographs, memories and accounts from those who knew her.
NREC chief executive Anjana Roy said: "Harshita does not exist simply as someone who's dead.''
''She had a life, she had hopes, she had dreams, she had ambitions, things that she wanted out of life"
As nearly two years pass since Harshita first sought help from Northamptonshire Police, NREC said the campaign aims to shine a light on her life, experiences and the continuing fight for justice.
24-year-old Harshita, had moved to Corby in Northamptonshire in 2024 following her marriage to Pankaj Lamba in India.
Her body was found in the boot of a Vauxhall Corsa in east London on 14th November that year. She is believed to have died by strangulation in Corby four days earlier.
In March 2025, her husband Pankaj Lamba was charged with Brella’s murder as well as two counts of rape, sexual assault and controlling or coercive behaviour.
Lamba is believed to have fled to India, and an international manhunt to find him is still ongoing.
Roy said organisers wanted people to see Harshita "not just as a name in print or a name associated with murder, but as the real living human being, the warm and vibrant person that she was".
Regular posts will be shared across social media, telling Harshita's story day by day and featuring photographs provided by her family. Her sister, Sonia Dabas, has also launched social media accounts under the banner Justice for Harshita.
As well as raising awareness, the campaign hopes to raise funds to help Harshita's family travel from India to the UK as they continue to seek answers.
"What the family want is justice," Roy said.
"This is one way that we can make sure Harshita's name is there so that she isn't just another case"
Roy will also run the Amazing Northampton Run half marathon in September as part of the fundraising effort.
She said Harshita's story carried a wider message about domestic abuse and the importance of support for those seeking help.
"If it can happen to Harshita, it can happen to your mother, your aunt, your sister, your daughter, it can happen to anybody," she said.
"If you care about any woman in your life, then this is something that will matter to you because you'll want them to be safe too."
More information about the #WalkWithHarshita campaign, including ways to donate, can be found on NREC's social media channels and via Anjana Roy's JustGiving page.
Anyone affected by domestic abuse can contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline 24 hour line on 0808 2000 247 or dial police via 101 or 999 in an emergency.