**Life Imprisonment for 'Wedding Bomb' Atrocities in India**

A court in Odisha, India, sentenced Punjilal Meher to life in prison after he was found guilty of orchestrating a parcel bomb explosion that killed a newlywed man and his great aunt in 2018. The incident, known as the "wedding bomb" case, shocked the nation when a bomb disguised as a wedding gift detonated just days after the couple's marriage. The bomb was sent to Soumya Sekhar Sahu's home, where his wife, Reema, opened it, resulting in the tragic loss of life and severe injuries to her. Meher, a former college principal, harbored a personal vendetta stemming from rivalry and meticulously planned the crime, using a false identity to avoid detection.

The parcel bomb was addressed to Soumya and delivered from Raipur, over 230 km away. As they prepared lunch just days after their wedding, Soumya and his great aunt were killed in the explosion. Reema sustained serious injuries, including severe burns. The investigation took months, leading to Meher's arrest after a letter hinted at his guilt, revealing knowledge of crime details only the perpetrator could know. The court, despite acknowledging the severity of the offense, did not classify it as warranting the death penalty, leading to Meher's life sentence.

The detailed investigation revealed that Meher had constructed the bomb with firecracker materials and camouflaged it as a wedding gift, further demonstrating the premeditated nature of the crime. Following mounting evidence and confessions, the case has concluded with Meher's conviction, highlighting the broader themes of personal revenge and the depths of betrayal entwined within this tragedy. The case remains one of the most shocking criminal acts of recent years in India.