My homoeopathic chamber is opposite to the Familia School gate, on the other side of the busy road linking northern districts to Kolkata. Just a few steps away to the west, stands the gate of the River Research Institute. When I started the chamber people of my family said with a bit of discouraging note why I was opening my chamber there for the place was an abode of ghosts. Well, I haven’t seen any ghosts so far there but I have a feeling that spot is haunted.

Why should I say that?

The story goes back to the post-Congress days in West Bengal. When the Communists came to power in this state they systematically eliminated the leaders and supporters of the Congress Party. For the fear of their life many joined the communists though their hearts were with the Congress Party. But Bhowmik remained faithful to the party he had grown up with. His father was a Congress worker and was a faithful soldier of the Party that had won freedom for the country under the leadership of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. With this zealous idealism in his heart Bhowmik refused to shift loyalty to the reds. So the Communists decided to liquidate him. They stabbed him in broad day light when he was going to his office. He ran across the road to save his life. He hid himself in a nearby house but his murderers dragged him out of the house and cold-bloodedly completed their heinous crime.

A person like Bhowmik is often seen running across the road by the drivers of speeding vehicles. They often turn their steering wheel to save the man only to find their trucks, tankers or carriers fallen in the ditch on this side of the road. It is surprising how all the speeding vehicles meet their mishaps at the particular spot where Bhoumik was murdered.

Well, not many people know the story. Ask any 50 to 60 years old residents of this village and they will tell you the story in hushed tones

(Based on true incident)