'Infamous' bungalow in Dhubri to make way for new judicial building

DHUBRI, Dec 4: Soon the infamous residential bungalow of former Goalpara district and Session Judge, Upendra th Rajkhowa will rest in the pages of history. A judicial building is coming up in the same site where Rajkhowa murdered and buried his wife and three daughters in 1970. After 47 years, the bungalow, which origilly belonged to the Central Inland Water Transport Corporation of India, will be demolished to make way for the new building, foundation of which was laid by the Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court, Ajit Singh on Friday.

Speaking in the meeting organized in this connection as the chief guest, Singh said that it gave him immense pleasure to lay the foundation stone of the judicial building in the historic district, which did not have its own building and all along functioned from the DC office. "Dhubri court is one of the oldest courts in Assam and so also the Dhubri Bar Association. Many eminent lawyers including A. Mazed Zaidson, Tara Charan Mazumdar, Sayed Ahmed Ali, Chandra Singha and Gias Uddin Ahmed practised in this court and left behind their me and fame," Singh added. Singh arrived at Dhubri with Justice Achinta Malla Buzarbaruah, Registrar of Gauhati High Court, Robin Phukan, Administrative Registrar, Aditya Hazarika, and secretary to the Chief Justice, Rakim Duara. The meeting was conducted by the first class magistrate of Dhubri Chief Judicial Court, Debobrata Kalita while objective of the meeting was explained by Dhubri District and Session Judge, Aparesh Chakraborty.

President of Assam Lawyers' Association, NI Choudhury, while addressing the meeting, said that after 137 years of Dhubri court, a six- storey judicial building was going to be constructed demolishing the infamous bungalow of Upendra th Rajkhowa.

"It is a historical moment as after few years from now judges, staff and lawyers will have their own building with all modern amenities. So I hope that construction of the building is completed within the time frame with quality work," Choudhury further said. The abandoned bungalow is located just opposite the Dhubri Deputy Commissioner's office. It is on a highland dotted with various important State and Central government offices, including Post Office, SP, Treasury, DRDA, State Bank of India, Dhubri Municipal Board, Home Guard, Dak Bungalow, Circuit House  and Foreigners Tribul offices in the backdrop of mighty Brahmaputra, which flows by the southern side. The Gauhati High Court sentenced Upendra th Rajkhowa to death in 1974. Later, he filed a mercy petition before the President but it was turned down and he was hanged to death. Many books were written and films were made on Rajkhowa's crime, including one in Assamese - Paap aru Prayaschit.