Bhubaneswar, 28 May (H.S.)In a significant development in the high-profile Patnagarh parcel bomb blast case, the Additional District Judge’s Court in Patnagarh has sentenced convict Punjilal Meher to life imprisonment. The verdict comes seven years after the shocking incident that claimed two lives and left another victim severely injured.
Meher, an English lecturer and former principal of Jyoti Vikas College, was also fined ₹50,000. The sentencing follows a comprehensive trial during which statements from 62 witnesses, along with Meher’s testimony, were recorded and examined.
The incident occurred on February 23, 2018, when newlywed couple Soumyasekhar Sahu, a software engineer, and his wife Reema Rani received a parcel at their residence. Mistaking it for a wedding gift, Soumyasekhar opened the package, which turned out to be a concealed explosive device. The blast killed Soumyasekhar and his 85-year-old grandmother, Jemamani Sahu, and left Reema Rani critically injured.
During the investigation, police identified Punjilal Meher as the mastermind behind the attack. The motive, as revealed by the probe, stemmed from professional rivalry. Meher allegedly harbored resentment toward Soumyasekhar’s mother, Sanjukta Sahu, who had succeeded him as principal of the college.
Driven by revenge, Meher meticulously researched explosive-making techniques over several months, procured the required chemicals and firecrackers, and ultimately dispatched the parcel bomb from Raipur using a fake identity to conceal his involvement.
The conviction marks a long-awaited closure to a case that had stunned the state and attracted national attention. The judgment reinforces the judiciary’s commitment to delivering justice in even the most complex and heinous crimes.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda
