Youngsters find hangout spot at War Cemetery
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 07 2015 :
Imphal war cemetery, the burial ground of Armies that died during the battle of Imphal (1939 to 1945), has been turned into hang-out spot for youngsters.
Everyday scores of students and others visit the cemetery for one or the other reason, the cemetery gardener L Amusou Voidumai told TSE today.
A resting ground to 1,600 Commonwealth soldiers, including Indians, Britons, Australians, Canadians, and East Africans, Imphal war cemetery, irrespective of its value to the families of these armies, are at present nothing but an enjoyable hangout for these youngsters.
The free entry system to the cemetery is perhaps the main reason why the place is transformed into a hangout, Amusou opined.
Nearly 500 to 1000 youngsters flock in to the cemetery everyday, the gardener informed.
Most of these youngsters leave behind cigarette butts and plastic wraps in and around the cemetery.
"Even girls come and openly smoke cigarette at the cemetery," the gardener added.
Asked why they allowed such behaviour inside the cemetery, the gardener said, "Nobody listens to us, sometimes the visitors turn to us if we happen to restrict them from doing anything." Helpless, Amusou appealed to the State Government to look into the matter.