Unexploded bombs in Manipur at the time of World War II worries many
Manipur and some other parts of the Northeast witnessed WW-II where Allied forces and Axis armies clashed in 1944
Both died on the spot. Subsequent police investigation revealed that the bomb was a
He was inadvertently struck by a spade, an unexploded shell buried by Allied forces in 1944
During World War II when Japanese forces entered Moreh via present-day Myanmar.
Moreh, located about 110 km south of Manipur’s capital Imphal, is a border town.
Myanmar.
Mamang, the youngest brother of the victims, refused to talk to the DH about the accident, but
According to Rajeshwar Yumnam, President of the World War II Imphal Campaign Foundation,
Such accidents have happened in the past, and a danger as big as unexploded bombs
And artillery shells are still left in the forests.
“Several children were killed when a bomb exploded in a school premises in Toloi village 15 to 20 years ago.”
Ukhrul District. That incident was not reported much by the media, probably because it was in a
Interior area,” Yumnam told DH over phone from Imphal.
“Many people lost their arms or legs due to detonation of WW-II era bombs while plowing the field or
Excavation of land for construction work. In November last year, there were 122 unexploded artillery shells
They were recovered from the same place where both the brothers had died on 30 September. the balls are still there
Moreh is lying near the police station,” he said.
WW-II was witnessed in Manipur and some other parts of the Northeast where Allied forces and Axis
The armies clashed in 1944. Japan’s decisive battle at Imphal was lost and thus their plan
The invasion of India was foiled. Undoubtedly this war left traces of destruction, many people died on both
Party. However, the remnants of the war worry many in Manipur.
“More was the largest arms depot for the Allied forces and a large amount of weapons
Buried including bombs and artillery shells. More than 20,000 soldiers were evacuated as
The Japanese advanced rapidly. But the bombs still haven’t exploded and so are incidents like
bound to happen,” Yumnam said.
Yumnam was founded by the Japan Association for Recovery and Repatriation of War. is helping
Casualties to locate the remains of Japanese soldiers killed during World War II. “Since then
World War II was not a battle of India, the British Government should also launch a mission
Recover the abandoned bombs that are still life threatening in our kingdom. we are planning to write to
United Nations for such a mission,” he said.
Unexploded bombs in Manipur at the time of World War II worries many
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by News East India staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
