Hannah suspect 'helped to flee'

Police have rejected claims of a terrorist link to Hannah's killer

The prime suspect in the murder of teenager Hannah Foster had an accomplice who helped him flee Britain for India, it has been claimed.

Maninder Pal Singh Kohli left the country last March, two days after the 17-year-old was found raped and strangled by a Southampton road.

An anonymous letter sent to the Daily Echo newspaper from New Dehli says the father-of-two was helped to escape.

The Southampton-based newspaper has passed the letter to Hampshire police.

The hunt for Hannah's killer 14 March 2003: Hannah vanishes after a night out 16 March: She is found raped and strangled in undergrowth 18 March: Mr Kohli flees to India from Heathrow airport 19 March: He is met by his brother in Ambala, Punjab 27 March: BBC Crimewatch viewer calls police with tip-off 28 March: Mr Kohli vanishes from family home in Punjab 8 April: Indian police issue warrant for Mr Kohli's arrest 1 May: Hampshire police team arrives in New Delhi, India 11 April: Hundreds mourn at Hannah's funeral in Highfield 13 May: Detectives fly home from India empty-handed 1 September: Police return to India to announce reward for Mr Kohli's capture 9 January 2004: Reward raised to five million rupees 1 February: Home Secretary David Blunkett calls for help finding Mr Kohli on trip to India 14 March: Family hold service on first anniversary of death

The letter named the accomplice and said he or she had links to a terrorist organisation, although police say they have looked into this claim and rejected it.

It was typewritten on stationery from the Raddison Hotel in New Delhi.

Detective Superintendent Alan Betts, leading the inquiry for Hampshire Police, said: "The letter was passed on to us and we have looked in to the matter.

"I am satisfied that there is no terrorist link."

DS Betts and a team of Hampshire police have twice flown to the Indian capital to help their Indian counterparts in the hunt for Mr Kohli, but returned empty-handed.

The 35-year-old sandwich delivery driver, who lived in Southampton with his wife and two young children, caught a flight to New Dehli four days after Hannah went missing in March 2003.

He then travelled to his family home in the Punjab, but disappeared soon after and has not been seen since.

Maninder Kholi left his wife and two young children in Southampton

Detectives earlier revealed to BBC News Online that Mr Kohli vanished after being tipped off in a phone call from Britain that police had raided his home in Southampton.

The reward for information leading to his capture was recently raised from one million rupees (£14,000) to five million (£70,000).

DS Betts told BBC News Online: "I would really like it to become the case that nowhere is safe for him.

"I would say to Kholi, 'it can't be nice looking over your shoulder all the time wondering if the police are going to come that day or the next'.

"Why not get in touch and we will be happy to see you."

Hannah, who was studying A-levels at Barton Peveril College in Eastleigh, had won a place to study medicine at two universities.

Her parents Trevor and Hilary Foster said their daughter had been taken from them at a time when she was enjoying life to the full.

She was snatched just half a mile from their home in Grosvenor Road, Portswood, after waving goodbye to a friend at the end of a night out.

A family statement said: "She was a warm, kind-hearted 17-year-old girl who could always see the good in others.

"Nothing can be said or done to bring her back to us but we have our precious memories of Hannah to give us the strength to carry on."

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Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Maninder Pal Singh Kohli is asked to contact Hampshire Police on 0845 045 45 45 from mainland UK or [phone] from outside the UK.