Punjilal Meher was sentenced to life imprisonment for the 2018 bombing that killed Soumya Sekhar Sahu and his great aunt, leaving the groom's wife critically injured. Although the crime was classified as heinous, the court did not consider it deserving of the death penalty, marking a significant conclusion to a complex investigation.
Court Sentences Man to Life for Disturbing 'Wedding Bomb' Attack
Court Sentences Man to Life for Disturbing 'Wedding Bomb' Attack
A former college principal in Odisha receives a life sentence for orchestrating a bomb attack disguised as a wedding gift, claiming the lives of a newlywed and his elderly relative.
The former principal of a college in Odisha, India, has been handed a life sentence for his role in the tragic “wedding bomb” incident that claimed the lives of a newlywed groom and his great aunt in 2018. Punjilal Meher, 56, was found guilty of murder, attempted murder, and the use of explosives after the court deemed it a heinous crime but did not classify it as one warranting the death penalty.
The incident unfolded in February 2018 in Patnagarh, Odisha, just days after 26-year-old Soumya Sekhar Sahu had celebrated his wedding. A parcel, which appeared to be a wedding gift, was sent to his home, purportedly from Raipur, over 230 kilometers away. When Sahu’s wife, Reema, opened the parcel, it exploded, resulting in the deaths of both Sahu and his 85-year-old great aunt, while Reema suffered serious injuries, including burns and a punctured eardrum.
An in-depth investigation led police to Meher, 49 at the time, who had professional links to Sahu's mother and reportedly harbored a personal grudge against the family due to past rivalries. The parcel contained a crude yet deadly bomb, meticulously concealed and rigged to detonate upon opening.
After sifting through thousands of phone records and investigating numerous leads, detectives caught a break when an anonymous letter was sent to the police, providing a potential motive tied to feelings of betrayal and hinting at underlying personal disputes. The handwriting on parcel documentation led investigators to reconsider the motives and complications surrounding Meher.
Under police interrogation, Meher initially claimed he was coerced but eventually confessed to crafting the bomb using extracted gunpowder from firecrackers, further complicating the narrative with his calculated attempts to create an alibi.
Despite the grievous nature of the crime and its impact on the community, the court's decision not to apply the death penalty reflects ongoing discussions in India regarding sentencing for crimes of violence. Now, as the victims' families grapple with their loss, this case stands as a stark reminder of the complexities surrounding personal vendettas and the lengths individuals may go when driven by anger and resentment.
The incident unfolded in February 2018 in Patnagarh, Odisha, just days after 26-year-old Soumya Sekhar Sahu had celebrated his wedding. A parcel, which appeared to be a wedding gift, was sent to his home, purportedly from Raipur, over 230 kilometers away. When Sahu’s wife, Reema, opened the parcel, it exploded, resulting in the deaths of both Sahu and his 85-year-old great aunt, while Reema suffered serious injuries, including burns and a punctured eardrum.
An in-depth investigation led police to Meher, 49 at the time, who had professional links to Sahu's mother and reportedly harbored a personal grudge against the family due to past rivalries. The parcel contained a crude yet deadly bomb, meticulously concealed and rigged to detonate upon opening.
After sifting through thousands of phone records and investigating numerous leads, detectives caught a break when an anonymous letter was sent to the police, providing a potential motive tied to feelings of betrayal and hinting at underlying personal disputes. The handwriting on parcel documentation led investigators to reconsider the motives and complications surrounding Meher.
Under police interrogation, Meher initially claimed he was coerced but eventually confessed to crafting the bomb using extracted gunpowder from firecrackers, further complicating the narrative with his calculated attempts to create an alibi.
Despite the grievous nature of the crime and its impact on the community, the court's decision not to apply the death penalty reflects ongoing discussions in India regarding sentencing for crimes of violence. Now, as the victims' families grapple with their loss, this case stands as a stark reminder of the complexities surrounding personal vendettas and the lengths individuals may go when driven by anger and resentment.
