A former college principal in India received a life sentence for a heinous crime that shocked the nation after a bomb disguised as a wedding gift killed a newlywed man and injured his wife critically.
'Life Sentence for Wedding Bomb Murderer in Odisha'
'Life Sentence for Wedding Bomb Murderer in Odisha'
A tragic case highlights the depths of vengeance, leading to a life sentence for the perpetrator.
In a shocking verdict, Punjilal Meher, a 56-year-old former college principal in Odisha, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for orchestrating a parcel bomb attack that resulted in the death of a newlywed man and his great aunt in 2018. The court found Meher guilty of murder, attempted murder, and the use of explosives in what became infamously known as the "wedding bomb" case, which deeply disturbed communities across India. The parcel bomb, presented as a wedding gift, was delivered to Soumya Sekhar Sahu, a 26-year-old software engineer, mere days after his marriage. When the couple opened the package, it detonated, killing Soumya and his 85-year-old great aunt, while seriously injuring his wife, Reema.
Despite acknowledging the case as "heinous," the court opted not to classify it as a "rarest of the rare" scenario that would warrant the death penalty. Investigators uncovered that the bomb, packed to explode upon opening, was mailed from a town over 230 kilometers away. The parcel bore a fake sender's name and was cleverly disguised to avoid detection. Soumya’s family members revealed that Meher, who had once held a position of authority at the college where Soumya’s mother worked, bore a long-standing grudge against the family, leading him to meticulously plan the attack.
The investigation involved an extensive examination of phone records and interrogations of numerous individuals until a mysterious letter revealed that the sender had insider knowledge about the crime. This critical lead allowed the authorities to focus on Meher, who, under pressure, confessed to creating the bomb using materials from Diwali celebrations and strategically avoided detection throughout the process. The entire case serves as a grim reminder of how personal vendettas can escalate to tragic proportions.
Despite acknowledging the case as "heinous," the court opted not to classify it as a "rarest of the rare" scenario that would warrant the death penalty. Investigators uncovered that the bomb, packed to explode upon opening, was mailed from a town over 230 kilometers away. The parcel bore a fake sender's name and was cleverly disguised to avoid detection. Soumya’s family members revealed that Meher, who had once held a position of authority at the college where Soumya’s mother worked, bore a long-standing grudge against the family, leading him to meticulously plan the attack.
The investigation involved an extensive examination of phone records and interrogations of numerous individuals until a mysterious letter revealed that the sender had insider knowledge about the crime. This critical lead allowed the authorities to focus on Meher, who, under pressure, confessed to creating the bomb using materials from Diwali celebrations and strategically avoided detection throughout the process. The entire case serves as a grim reminder of how personal vendettas can escalate to tragic proportions.
