Guwahati, 24th November: In a significant development, Dhubri is gearing up for the inauguration of a new district court building, marking a transformative shift for a location infamous for its dark history. The site, once dubbed the ‘Bhoot Bungalow’ due to unsettling events in its past, will now house a modern court facility.
The history of the eerie reputation traces back to the heinous crime committed by former District and Sessions Judge Upendra Nath Rajkhowa. In February 1970, after his retirement, Rajkhowa shocked the region by murdering his entire family in the bungalow, leaving a haunting legacy.
The building, initially used by representatives of the R.S.N. and I.G.N. shipping company, became the official residence of the district judge after the government acquired it. However, the echoes of the tragic incident lingered, earning the structure its unsettling moniker.
The gruesome crime unfolded with Rajkhowa murdering his wife, Putuli, and daughters Nirmali, Jonali, and Rupali. The bodies were discreetly buried in three pits behind the bungalow. The murderer went to great lengths, planting flower trees on the pits to conceal the crime.
The case gained attention when Rajkhowa’s relatives questioned the family’s whereabouts, eventually leading to an investigation. In June 1970, Upendra Nath Rajkhowa was apprehended in Siliguri, and he confessed to the murders. Subsequently, the remains were discovered behind the bungalow, leading to a high-profile trial.
Upendra Nath Rajkhowa was sentenced to death on the advice of the High Court, while his accomplice Umesh Baishya was acquitted. The former judge met his fate on February 14, 1974, when he was executed in Jorhat Jail.
Now, the site of this grim history is undergoing a transformation with the construction of a six-story district court building. Anticipated to open soon, the facility is seen as a symbol of justice replacing the haunted past of the ‘Bhoot Bungalow.’ Members of the legal community in Dhubri, represented by Kamal Hussain Ahmed and Nurul Islam Choudhury of the Dhubri Bar Association, express their excitement about the shift from a dark chapter to a state-of-the-art courthouse. The new district court building is poised to bring a fresh narrative to a location marred by its ominous history.