GOLAKGANJ, Feb 6 � A building which was the official residence of the district magistrate of Dhubri presently lies abandoned. In the month of May, 1970 a sensational news was published in the newspapers of Assam. Upen Rajkhowa, magistrate of Dhubri, was missing from the �bungalow� all of a sudden without leaving any trace. Finding no clue to his whereabouts, the relatives and the local people became very worried.
When the matter was investigated by the police, it was revealed that Upen Rajkhowa fled from the place after brutally killing his wife and three daughters. Later after a lot of effort, the police was finally able to trace him out from �Sevok� hotel in Siliguri, North Bengal. When the police went to the hotel to interrogate him, Rajkhowa unsuccessfully tried to commit suicide in the bathroom of the hotel. Then he was admitted to Siliguri Hospital. While he was in the hospital, Dhubri police searched the inner and outer portions of the bungalow, but was unable to find any trace of his wife and daughters. Then the police interrogated the �zamadar, and the �mali� who were the caretakers of the bungalow. As per the statements given by the mali, a waste land was found at the back of the bungalow�s bathroom and the mali revealed that Upen Rajkhowa and his cook Umesh Baishya were seen planting flower plants at the same place. In the same way, Rajkhowa and his cook were seen planting flower plants on a earth-filled trench opposite the office of the Superintendent of Police, Dhubri. Police realised that it was a sensitive matter, but at that point of time, the police needed proper evidence. After a lot of thought police arrested the cook, Umesh Baishya.
Baishya revealed some heartbreaking, cruel acts of Rajkhowa to the police. As per Baishya�s version, he was threatened by Rajkhowa that if he did not cooperate with him in killing Rajkhowa�s wife and daughters, he will shoot Umesh Baishya dead. Finding no other option Baishya agreed and with an iron rod both of them brutally killed the four.
After committing the crime, the clothes of the deceased were kept under the ground of the same premises.
After getting released from hospital, Rajkhowa was sent to the custody of Dhubri police. Rajkhowa refused to give any statement to the police regarding this matter. While he was sent to Dhubri Jail, once again he tried to commit suicide but failed again. Rajkhowa was sentenced to life-long imprisonment by a lower court, while Upen Baishya was given a ten years term. After the verdict given by the lower court, Rajkhowa appealed to the High Court, but as expected the High Court gave Rajkhowa death penalty.
Though this incident happened ia long time back, its effect can be still seen in and around Dhubri. The bungalow is still empty and one can hardly dare to reside in it. It has already been declared �bhoot bungla� by the people. People hardly dare to move anywhere near it after dark.
But neither the police nor the people have ever been able to find the cause behind this intriguing but macabre murder mystery.
