Reward raised for Hannah suspect

Maninder Kholi left his wife and two young children in Southampton

Detectives hunting the killer of teenager Hannah Foster have increased the reward for the capture of the prime suspect.

A reward of one million rupees (£14,000) for the capture of Maninder Pal Singh Kohli, who fled to India, has now been raised to five million rupees (£70,000).

The 35-year-old is suspected of abducting, raping and murdering 17-year-old Southampton student Hannah on Friday, 14 March, 2003.

Detective Superintendent Alan Betts, who is leading the inquiry, said: "This is a huge sum of money by any standards.

"We are hoping it will encourage information and help from the public both here and, most importantly, in India, where it could take a skilled worker two lifetimes to earn this kind of money."

Punjab police

He added: "We fully understand that it is a huge and diverse country, but somebody must know where Mr Kohli is and we appeal to them now to come forward and help us bring an end to this search."

The inquiry team is continuing to liaise with Interpol and police in the Punjab, who are leading the hunt to find Mr Kohli in India.

Police say the reward will only be paid for information leading to the arrest of Mr Kohli or to the suspect giving himself up.

Anyone in India with information should contact Assistant Inspector General Mann Singh of the Punjab Police on: 0172 740 971 or 0172 220 244 or 0172 740 298 (Punjab Police Control Room). Those with information in the UK are urged to call the inquiry team on 0845 045 45 45.

If more than one person is involved in any tip-off it will be distributed amongst them.

Mr Betts added: "Payment would not be considered appropriate if he were to be tricked or coerced into leaving any country in which he is currently residing, thereby avoiding the legal safeguards of the extradition process."

On Wednesday, it was revealed to BBC News Online that Hannah's parents may fly out to India to help raise publicity.

Hannah was raped and strangled after a night out with friends in the city's Portswood area.

Her body was found two days later by a roadside in Allington Lane, West End, Eastleigh.