Mortal remains of fallen Japanese soldiers of WWII recovered
Source: The Sangai Express
Bishnupur, November 09 2017:
Skeleton remains of fallen Japanese soldiers who died at the Great 1942 "Imphal battle" were collected from the residence of one Chabungbam Rajkumar at Phubala Awang Leikai today .
A five member joint team headed by First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy, Kenji Aya and Japan Association for Recovery and Repatriation of War Casualties (JARRWC) Atsunari Tokunaga went to the area and recovered the remains which are believed to be from the 2nd world war .
The remains were found by Rajkumar Chabungbam's sons from their backyard .
Ministry of Health Labour Welfare Japan, JARRWC, 2nd World War Imphal Campaign Foundation, Anthropology Department, MU, Art and Culture Department Manipur and Forensic Science representatives were a part of the collection team .
The team also interacted with the elderly and the old people who witnessed the war and gifts were also presented by the Japanese representatives .
Speaking to media persons, JARRWC representative Atsunari Tokunaga stated that the journey was sponsored by the Japanese Government with an aim to search for the mortal remains of their fallen soldiers and to research the footsteps of their predecessors .
He further stated that necessary tests will be conducted in order to find out the nationality and credibility of the remains and the unidentified remains will be kept at the War Casualty Museum in Tokyo .
2nd World War Imphal Campaign Foundation representative Arambam Angamba Singh stated that the week long journey will try to reach various areas of the State and the remains will be cremated at Imphal after a DNA test is conducted .
The team will head to Kameng tomorrow, he added.