Antique currencies handed over
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 24 2014:
Retired police officer and former Judicial Magistrate Sarangthem Manaobi Khoiranthaba of Canchipur handed over several antique Japanese Invasion Bank notes to World War-II Memorial Foundation of Manipur.
The currency notes were collected during World War-II.
Manaobi's collection included 10 Cent notes, half, 1, 5, 10 and 100 Rupees notes which were circulated by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War-II .
Sarangthem Manaobi, who recently contested Lok Sabha Election in Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency, said that the currency notes were preserved by his parents who were settled at Wangjing at the time of World War-II .
Manaobi said that during the World War-II, the Imperial Japanese Army along with Indian National Army (INA) troops advanced up to Moirang in the south west, Pallel and outskirts of Wangjing in the south east and Ukhrul in the east.
In the north, the Imperial Japanese Army also advanced up to Motbung and Kangpokpi, he added.
During their occupation, Manaobi said, the Japanese Army circulated and air dropped these currency notes of various denominations for the people of Manipur.
However, the Allied forces asked the local populace not to accept and use the currency notes.
While thanking Manaobi for generously donating the currency notes, AK Pradhan, Secretary of Information and Publicity of the Foundation said that the Japanese Invasion Money also officially known as Southern Development Bank Notes was the currency issued by the Japanese Military Authority during World War-II .