A Wedding, A Gift & Then Tragedy: Odisha Parcel Bomber Gets Life Term After 7 Years

Last Updated:May 28, 2025, 13:28 IST

Driven by jealousy, Punjilal Meher had meticulously planned the attack after the victim's mother took over his position at an educational institution

Soumya Sekhar Sahu and his wife when they tied the knot. (ANI)

Seven years after a deadly parcel bomb engineered by a jealous acquaintance killed a newly-wed man and his relative in Odisha, the Additional District Judge in Patnagarh sentenced the convict to life imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 on him.

The case dates back to February 2018, when the calm of the quiet town of Patnagarh in Odisha was shattered by a horrific crime. Soumya Sekhar Sahu, a 26-year-old bright software engineer, had recently tied the knot and was looking forward to a happy future alongside his new wife, Reema, when fate took a cruel twist.

On February 23, a mysterious parcel arrived at Sahu’s home. Disguised as a wedding gift, the package, however, held something far more sinister—a bomb. The explosion ripped through the household, instantly claiming the lives of Sahu and his grandmother Jemamani Sahu, leaving Reema gravely injured.

The horror sent shockwaves across the region, and the investigation quickly zeroed in on Punjilal Meher, an English lecturer and former principal at Jyoti Vikas College, where Sahu’s mother, Sanjukta, had taken over his position. Driven by jealousy, Meher had meticulously planned the attack, turning to the internet to learn how to make bombs. He had even used his mobile phone to track the parcel’s journey to Sahu’s home. Police also gathered irrefutable evidence: fingerprints on the deadly package and travel records showing Meher’s trip to Raipur to send the bomb.

According to OdishaTV, items recovered from Meher’s possession, including gunpowder, wiring, a partially burned diary, and computer data, were central to the prosecution.

OTHER CASES

This was not the first time parcel bombs were used to commit a crime and spread panic. Some of the notable cases include the Unabomber Case (United States, 1978–1995) in which Ted Kaczynski, over nearly two decades, sent homemade bombs via mail to universities, airlines, and individuals, killing three people and injuring many. His attacks targeted modern technology and industrial society. Kaczynski was captured in 1996 and sentenced to life imprisonment.

A failed assassination plot in the 1960s involved sending a bomb disguised as a package to then-President John F. Kennedy. The device was intercepted before it could cause harm and the plotters were arrested and charged.

Between 2010 and 2013, several parcel bombs were sent to political leaders, government offices, and individuals in Pakistan, causing injuries and deaths. These attacks aimed to intimidate political opponents and destabilise the government. Various suspects were arrested, and heightened security measures were implemented for mail screening.

WHY PARCEL BOMBS ARE USED

What makes parcel bombs “popular" among attackers are their easy concealment as they can be disguised as ordinary packages or gifts. They allow attackers to target victims without direct confrontation, while creating fear and uncertainty about everyday mail and deliveries.

Location :

Odisha (Orissa), India, India

First Published:

News india A Wedding, A Gift & Then Tragedy: Odisha Parcel Bomber Gets Life Term After 7 Years