A former college principal from Odisha, in eastern India, has received a life sentence for his role in sending a parcel bomb that resulted in the deaths of a newlywed man and his great aunt in 2018.
A court has convicted Punjilal Meher, 56, on charges of murder, attempted murder, and the use of explosives in a case that has shocked the nation, commonly referred to as the “wedding bomb” incident.
A bomb, cleverly concealed as a wedding gift, was sent to the residence of 26-year-old software engineer Soumya Sekhar Sahu mere days following his wedding ceremony.
A tragic incident unfolded when a couple opened a package that detonated, resulting in the deaths of Sahu and his great-aunt. His wife, Reema, who was the one to open the package, sustained critical injuries in the explosion.
The court recognized the prosecution’s characterization of the crime as “heinous” yet ultimately decided against categorizing it as a “rarest of the rare” case that would warrant the death penalty.
In February 2018, an explosion occurred in Patnagarh, a serene town located in the Bolangir district of Odisha.
Just five days into their marriage, the victims were in the midst of preparing lunch when a parcel was delivered to their home. The package addressed to Soumya seemed to be a wedding gift, reportedly dispatched from Raipur in Chhattisgarh state, located over 230 kilometers (142 miles) away.
In a tragic turn of events, Soumya’s attempt to open a parcel ended in disaster as an explosion rocked the kitchen, claiming the lives of both him and his 85-year-old great-aunt, Jemamani Sahu. At the age of 22, Reema endured severe burns, a punctured eardrum, and significant trauma, emerging from the ordeal with lasting injuries.
Following an extensive investigation, authorities apprehended Meher, 49, a teacher who was previously the principal of a local college where Soumya’s mother was employed.
At that time, investigators revealed that Meher held a longstanding grudge stemming from professional rivalry and had carefully orchestrated the attack. A false name and address were employed to send the bomb from Raipur, with the individual opting for a courier service that lacked CCTV and parcel scanning capabilities.
The explosive device journeyed more than 650 kilometers by bus, changing hands several times before its final delivery. Authorities reported that the device, described as crude yet lethal, was encased in jute thread and designed to explode upon being opened.
The package containing the explosive was labeled with a fictitious name – SK Sharma from Raipur. As weeks went by, the investigation revealed no definitive suspects. In a thorough investigation, authorities meticulously examined thousands of phone records and conducted interviews with more than 100 individuals. Among those questioned was a man who had made a threatening call following Reema’s engagement; however, no substantial evidence emerged from these inquiries.
In April, a letter from an anonymous source was delivered to the local police chief.
The report indicated that the bomb was dispatched under the alias “SK Sinha” rather than Sharma and alluded to motives involving “betrayal” and financial gain.
A letter has surfaced alleging that three men have “undertaken the project” and are now “beyond police reach.” The report highlighted the groom’s alleged “betrayal” and financial issues, suggesting the possibility of a jilted partner or a property conflict as underlying motives. The request urged law enforcement to cease the harassment of innocent individuals.
The letter shifted the course of the investigation.
Arun Bothra, the police officer who led Odisha’s crime branch at the time, observed a critical detail regarding the handwriting on the parcel’s receipt. He pointed out that it bore a closer resemblance to “Sinha” rather than “Sharma.”
The letter writer appeared to possess knowledge that only the sender could have had, highlighting a significant detail in the correspondence.
Authorities have concluded that the suspect likely authored the letter personally.
The evidence suggested that the sender possessed a deeper understanding of the crime than the authorities currently had. In stating that the message was dispatched by a messenger, he implied that someone from the area did not perpetrate the crime. He indicated that three individuals carried out the plot. “He sought to be regarded with seriousness, yet he inadvertently undermined his facade by highlighting an error we had committed,” 2018 Mr. Bothra conveyed to me.
The mother of the victim, who works as a college teacher, identified the writing style and phrasing of the letter as characteristic of her former colleague, Meher, who had previously held the position of principal before her.
Authorities had earlier characterized Meher’s workplace rivalry as typical academic politics. He has now emerged as the prime suspect in the ongoing investigation.
During the interrogation, Meher presented a questionable narrative, claiming she was coerced into delivering the letter under duress.
Authorities claim that he subsequently admitted to hoarding firecrackers during Diwali, extracting gunpowder, constructing the bomb, and sending it from Raipur via a courier service.
He is reported to have left his phone at home to establish an alibi and evaded CCTV footage by refraining from purchasing a train ticket. Meher was present at both the wedding and the funeral of the victim.
