Chilling Case in Odisha: Teacher Sentenced to Life for ‘Wedding Bomb’ Murders

A former college principal in Odisha, India, received a life sentence for a tragic crime that shocked the nation. Punjilal Meher, 56, was found guilty of sending a parcel bomb that killed a newlywed man, Soumya Sekhar Sahu, and his 85-year-old great aunt in February 2018.

The bomb was cleverly disguised as a wedding gift. It arrived at Soumya’s home just days after his wedding. When his wife, Reema, opened the parcel, it exploded, instantly killing Soumya and his aunt. Reema survived but was left with severe injuries, including burns and a punctured eardrum.

The court recognized this act as "heinous" but stopped short of classifying it as a "rarest of the rare" case, which would have warranted the death penalty. This decision stirred various reactions, especially from those who followed the case closely.

Soumya’s wedding had been a happy occasion just five days earlier. The dark turn of events took place in Patnagarh, a peaceful town in Bolangir district. The bomb came from Raipur, about 142 miles away.

Authorities later arrested Meher, a former principal at a college where Soumya’s mother worked. Investigators found that Meher had a personal grudge stemming from professional rivalry. He meticulously planned the bombing, using a false name to mail the bomb via a courier without security checks. The device traveled over 650 kilometers, changing hands multiple times before reaching its final destination.

The investigation was rife with challenges. Initial searches yielded no clear suspects, leading authorities to sift through thousands of phone records and interview over a hundred people. An anonymous letter later arrived, claiming insight into the crime, mentioning motives like "betrayal" and money disputes.

Arun Bothra, a police officer at the crime branch, noted that the handwriting on the letter matched that of a colleague of the victim’s mother. This led them to zero in on Meher. Under questioning, he initially claimed threats but eventually confessed. His confession detailed how he made the bomb using materials from firecrackers and how he evaded detection by avoiding camera systems.

This case not only highlights a shocking act but also reflects the dark undercurrents of rivalry and resentment that can exist within professional spheres. It serves as a grim reminder of how personal conflicts can escalate into serious violence.

For further reading on similar cases and their societal implications, you can refer to reports by the BBC.

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