Odisha police have arrested the alleged mastermind of February 23 parcel bomb explosion that had killed a newly-wed groom and his grand mother while seriously injuring the bride in the state’s Balangir district.
Punjilal Meher, the accused and a colleague of the deceased groom’s mother, was arrested by the Crime Branch on Tuesday night, Director General of Police RP Sharma told reporters at Cuttack.
Motive Behind The Crime
Soumya Sarkar and Reema Sahu had married on 18 February. Five days later, they received a parcel as a wedding gift. The parcel exploded when it was opened on 23 February. Soumya and his grandmother Jemamani were killed in the blast while Reema suffered grievous burn injuries.
The blast, according to crime branch, was the brain child of a college lecturer who targetted the family after he was replaced from the post of principal by Sanjukta, the deceased groom’s mother.
“The motive of the crime was jealousy. Soumya’s mother Sanjukta was made principal of the Jyoti Bikash College at Bhainsa replacing Meher,” IGP Crime Branch Arun Bothra told PTI.
Meticulous planning
According to police, Meher did a proper planning to wipe out Sanjukta’s family and to evade any shadow of doubt. The accused studied for seven months and took the help of the Internet to prepare the bomb. Meher bought firecrackers during Diwali and meticulously collected the gunpowder inside them to make 2 kg bombs. He even tested small bombs manufactured by him before sending the gift parcel.
On the day of dispatching the parcel, Punjilal took a class inside his college to mark his presence in town. He then caught a train to Raipur without a ticket. To avoid CCTVs, he paid an auto driver in Raipur to hand over the package to the courier service.
Family demands death penalty
The victim’s family also alleged that Meher began harassing Sanjukta (victim’s mother) after he was asked to vacate the post of principal.
The accused lecturer
Speaking with Indian Express, Soumya’s father Ravindra said: “In 2014, my wife joined the college in Bhainsa. She was senior to this man by 13 years. By rules, the senior-most lecturer automatically becomes principal… However, this man was adamant that he would not give up his position. He initially harassed my wife at work, accusing her of not taking classes and coming late to work. When the government order appointing my wife as principal arrived, he sat on it for three months and did not vacate his seat.”
Meanwhile, Reema, who underwent extensive treatment for burns at Cuttack’s SCB Medical College, has demanded death for the accused.
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