Dead man's documents handed over to family
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 06 2015 : Photograph of the grave of Akhil Pukhini and other related documents have been handed over to his grandson.

Akhil Pukhini was a member of Manipur Labour Corps who were sent to Europe to assist British forces during the First World War.

Since then, when and how they died or survived remained unknown.

Recently, graveyards of the 87 members of Manipur Labour Corps were discovered in Europe and Africa and a report on the discovery was published in The Sangai Express.

Photograph of the spot where Akhil Pukhini was buried and relevant documents were handed over to his grandson Suni Lorho at Manipur Press Club here today by Second World War Imphal Campaign Foundation co-founder Yumnam Rajeshwar.

Documents being handed to the grandson of the deceased

62 year old Suni Lorho from Song Song village, Mao said that they have been searching for their grandfather all these years.

"We thought we would never know where he died.

But today, I feel so happy that I have got a photograph of the place where my grandfather was buried", Suni Lorho said.

There is a legend about Akhil Lorho who was riding on horseback in front of the Manipur Labour Corps giving Rs 5 to a kid at Mao Gate as they left Manipur never to return again.

"As the graveyard has been located, we will contact French Embassy and Indian Embassy to pay a visit to the graveyard", Suni Lorho said.

Before he went to the war, Akhil Pukhini was working at the Post and Telegraph.

He was forced to join the Manipur Labour Corps as he could speak English.

Even as some other members of the Manipur Labour Corps returned home after the war, many others including Akhil Pukhini never came back.

Second World War Imphal Campaign Foundation co-founder Yumnam Rajeshwar said that Akhil Pukhini was found buried at Barly French Military Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France along with eight other Indians.

Pointing out that Akhil Pukhini graveyard is plot no D-4 and his service number was 190, Rajeshwar informed that he died on May 4, 1918 .

Out of 87 people whose graveyards have been discovered, photographs of two graveyards have been handed over to respective families.

Notably, around 2000 men from Manipur went to the Second World War as members of Manipur Labour Corps.