THE detective leading the hunt for the killer of Hampshire student Hannah Foster today has again backed the Indian police trying to track down the prime suspect.

Det Supt Alan Betts, senior investigating officer on the Operation Springfield inquiry, said the investigation was making good progress in India as the net closed in on the suspected killer.

Police are confident Maninder Pal Singh Kohli - wanted in connection with the rape and murder of 17-year-old Hannah - will soon be tracked down and arrested.

Detectives from the Indian equivalent of the FBI are leading the hunt for 35-year-old Kohli, who is believed to be hiding out in the Punjab.

Today Det Supt Betts spoke of his confidence in the investigation team after returning from a two-week trip spent liaising with the authorities and battling red tape in New Delhi.

"Now we are back, we are carrying on progressing with the file and generally dotting all the 'i's and crossing all the 't's," he said.

"Our close co-operation with the Indian authorities is on-going, and we are continuing to gather intelligence at this end which we are passing on to them.

"I am impressed with what they are doing. However, you have to bear in mind India is a massive country with a massive population, and these things do take some time."