'Wedding bomb' murderer gets life sentence in India

In the eastern Indian state of Odisha, a shocking crime took place in 2018 that captured the attention of the entire nation. Soumya Sekhar Sahu, a 26-year-old software engineer, had just celebrated his wedding when tragedy struck. A parcel disguised as a wedding gift was delivered to his home in Patnagarh, a quiet town in Odisha's Bolangir district. When Soumya and his wife Reema opened the package, it exploded violently, killing Soumya and his 85-year-old great aunt Jemamani Sahu. Reema was critically injured, suffering severe burns and other serious injuries. This horrific incident became known as the 'wedding bomb' case and left the community in shock.

After a thorough and lengthy investigation, the police arrested Punjilal Meher, a 56-year-old former college principal. Meher was found guilty of murder, attempted murder, and the use of explosives. The court sentenced him to life imprisonment, recognizing the severity of the crime but deciding against the death penalty. The investigation revealed that Meher had carefully planned the attack, motivated by a professional rivalry with Soumya's family. He sent the bomb from Raipur, a city over 230 kilometers away, using a fake name and address to avoid detection. The bomb was a crude but deadly device, designed to detonate when the parcel was opened.

The case was complex and involved many twists. Initially, the police had no clear suspects and examined thousands of phone records and interviewed over 100 people. The breakthrough came when an anonymous letter was sent to the local police chief, revealing new information about the sender and motives behind the attack. The handwriting on the parcel's receipt was re-examined and found to be different from what was first thought. The letter hinted at betrayal and money disputes, suggesting personal motives. Eventually, the victim's mother recognized the handwriting as that of Punjilal Meher, a former colleague she had replaced as a college principal. Under questioning, Meher confessed to building and sending the bomb, even attending both the wedding and the funeral of the victim. This tragic case highlights the dangers of personal grudges and the devastating consequences they can have.