**A former college principal in Odisha has received a life sentence for orchestrating a bomb attack that claimed the lives of a newlywed couple shortly after their marriage.**
**Life Imprisonment for 'Wedding Bomb' Perpetrator in India**
**Life Imprisonment for 'Wedding Bomb' Perpetrator in India**
**A shocking incident from 2018 concludes with a life sentence for the man behind a deadly explosive disguised as a wedding gift.**
In a dramatic conclusion to a harrowing case, Punjilal Meher, a 56-year-old former college principal in Odisha, India, has been sentenced to life in prison following the 2018 bombing incident that shocked the nation. The court held him guilty of murder, attempted murder, and the use of explosives in what has been infamously dubbed the "wedding bomb" case. The explosive device, cleverly disguised as a wedding gift, resulted in the tragic deaths of Soumya Sekhar Sahu, a 26-year-old software engineer, and his 85-year-old great-aunt, Jemamani Sahu.
The attack occurred merely five days after Soumya’s wedding, as he and his wife, Reema, prepared lunch at their home in the town of Patnagarh. When the couple opened the parcel, a devastating explosion ensued, resulting in Soumya’s immediate death and critical injuries to Reema. Despite recognizing the severity of the crime, the court opted against imposing the death penalty.
The investigation spanned several months, during which authorities arrested Meher, who had held a long-standing grudge against Soumya's family due to professional rivalry. Notably, he had cleverly mailed the bomb from over 230 kilometers away, using false names and evading surveillance. The bomb was a rudimentary yet lethal device that detonated upon being opened.
Police made a breakthrough in the investigation when they received an anonymous letter claiming knowledge of the plot, which ultimately led them to identify Meher as a suspect. During police interrogation, Meher initially fabricated stories to distance himself from the crime but later confessed to meticulously planning the attack, even presenting himself at both the wedding and the funeral to maintain an alibi.
The case has drawn significant attention in India, culminating in comprehensive media coverage, highlighting the chilling details surrounding the tragedy and underscoring the depths of anger and jealousy that fueled this heinous act.
The attack occurred merely five days after Soumya’s wedding, as he and his wife, Reema, prepared lunch at their home in the town of Patnagarh. When the couple opened the parcel, a devastating explosion ensued, resulting in Soumya’s immediate death and critical injuries to Reema. Despite recognizing the severity of the crime, the court opted against imposing the death penalty.
The investigation spanned several months, during which authorities arrested Meher, who had held a long-standing grudge against Soumya's family due to professional rivalry. Notably, he had cleverly mailed the bomb from over 230 kilometers away, using false names and evading surveillance. The bomb was a rudimentary yet lethal device that detonated upon being opened.
Police made a breakthrough in the investigation when they received an anonymous letter claiming knowledge of the plot, which ultimately led them to identify Meher as a suspect. During police interrogation, Meher initially fabricated stories to distance himself from the crime but later confessed to meticulously planning the attack, even presenting himself at both the wedding and the funeral to maintain an alibi.
The case has drawn significant attention in India, culminating in comprehensive media coverage, highlighting the chilling details surrounding the tragedy and underscoring the depths of anger and jealousy that fueled this heinous act.
